Their new and deeper wells, driven by the tirleomoran, and reaching the internal fires, gave them greater sense of security. Irelium floats were let down which would not be injured by the great heat, and these, communicating with an indicator at the mouth, told of every disturbance in the surface of the lake of fire. All the indicators were connected with the centre of force, and automatically recorded there all they had to tell. The same system of centralised record placed the various indications of the climolans or earth-sensors at every moment ready to the hand of the Leomo. These climolans were down every force-well and told every variation in the heat, the density of the air, the kind of vapour, the magnetism, and the movement of the crust of the earth. No change in the earth below the island down to a distance of thirty or forty miles (the latter the greatest depth they had reached) was neglected. Every indication was properly tabulated and classified, and year was compared with year and month with month, till the meaning and importance of every change were exactly known. The furthest records of the past, as well as those more recent, were daily consulted in order to find the generalisation that would fit any new symptom. The Leomo felt daily the pulse of Lilaroma as a doctor would that of his most valued fever patient. They knew that they had the fate of the race in their hands, and no indication was of too little importance for them to consider. What would all the strivings and labours of the nation come to if any laxity on their part should allow such a volcanic catastrophe to recur as had destroyed the capital of old? CHAPTER VIII RIMLA