The Delaware herald., 1854-03-22

| spoke to her; but although she recognized I
me- think she did not, or would not remember S
our former interview. The idea suggested it.
self that she was touched in her intellect, SO |
made no farther alluson to the subject. 1t was c
evident that the guide knew her, and had con- /
fidence in her. He asked her advice about the I
path which it would be advisable to follow; and '
obeyed her directions implicitly. "Who is |
thatr' whispered at is Ghita, the Volcano {
GIRL" he replied in English, before repeating 1
the Italian name, which might be translated
the daughter of the Volcano" | had no {
time for further inquiries. We were once more
in motion, and had enough to do to keep our
footing on the rough lava in the teeth OF as
furious a blast as ever | remember encounter
ing. 1t would have been dangerous to stand
even near precipice.
1t was q marvellous scene that vast black
valley with its lake of fire at the bottom-its
cone of fire on one hand The discharges
were constant and had something appalling in
their sound. We were almost too much excl
ted for observation. Now we looked at the
cone Of green and gold that sank and rose,
faded and frightened smoked or famed; then |
at the strong mountains of lava then at the |
burning fssures that yawned around. There |
were vet some remnants of day-a gloomy twi-
light at least revealed the jagged rim of the
valley. Down we went-60wn, down to the |
very edge of the boiling caidron of melted |
lava, that rolled its huge waves toward the
black shore, waves whose foam and spray were
fire and flame! An eruption evidently was
preparing; and soon indeed took place. We
missed the sight but what we now saw was
grand enough. A troop Of heavy black
clouds was hurrying athwart the sky, showing
the stars ever and anon between 4" like q swarm
of golden bees The wind rOared and below
ed among the lava-guies, while the cone dis
charged its blocks of burning lava, or its show
ers of red sparks, with a boom like that of a
park of artillery.
A thousand travellers may witness and de-
scribe the scene, but it can never be hackneyed
+ or vulgar. The volcano-girl, evidently familiar
/ with every changing aspect, crept to my side,
as | stood apart wrapt in silent admiration and
wonder and | caught her examining the ex-
preston of my face it was revealed by the
dismal glare of the burning lake. " BELLS
9 Sinla - she whispered in a husky voice, press
4 ing close to my side, and trembling like leaf
4 not with present fear, but manfestly III memory
of some dreadful event We were friends from
, tat moment and she constituted herself my
o especial guide, running before me to choose the
I surest paths giving me her delicate little hand,
q and showing in fact, all possible willingness to
o make up our little quarrel II she retained any
n remembrance of it,
:, ed within dangerous proximity to it. The vol
5f cano-girl often pulled my arm to induce me to
's keep back; but when she saw was determined
10 to look down into the horrid flaming gulf Of
"a fire that yawned near the cone, she followed
II me, murmuring low pensive song. On reach
~ ing the edge, which was uncertain and trem
=, bling, halted and gazed and while the guide
-, and my companions shouted to me to come
back, enjoyed moment of fearful Joy. l wa'
IL L g
~ in which no flame was, but only dreadful
-, glow that thickened by distance into substance
90 The wind shrieked around, the volcano roareC
II above, the tremendous cloud Of black smCk
= swayed and wavered as it rolled, beaten dOwl
h by the wind to the outer edge of the crater, ik
:, a vast snake, or, when the tlist for a momen
81 ceased lowered aloft like an evil genius, an
~ dispersed amid the clouds.
- "Come back come back !" cried Ghita, q
no the smoky pile of cinders trembled beneath u:
e. and we both, panic-stricken, rushed to a sure
footing, while the point we had occupied slide
,,. into the gulf of fire! / never shall forget tina
IN moment. The very memory of it makes m
"a hair stand on an end, and cold perspiratio
Jo Berst out over my whole body. The girl clasT
~ ed my hand convulsively as we ran, and whe
we stood again on the hot solid lava, uttered
"a low " DiO grazia!" All this was unlike foil,
,E- and together with our cOmpanionship in daI
'ho ger, heightened the interest felt in my wilC
I'd looking, beautiful guide.
80 We all returned toward the edge Of the cr
- ter, and collected in lava-cave TO light torch'
,,o for our Journey back. Here we met two
,nd three men armed with guns, who professed
- be guards, and might have been brgands Or
r-s of them spoke rather roughly to the volcan
hv girl, who took refuge by my side and would n
nD quit it. We started again by the light of gre
II fiaring torches, and soon began the desce
~ down to a dusty decline. 1t was a strang
',r- rapid piece of work. The whole party ra
~ rushed, tumbled, sided, rolled down in Of
Ia confused crowd, the torches glaring, flakes
burning pitch scattering here and there, 4
and palanquin bobbing up and down, the mounta
IT, slopng up to the clouds behind, and down in
ms darkness before. We descended this time in
;,s the old crater-a great plain of dust and pul
onJ ice-stone. All was gloomy around but t
Ii lights of Naples and Portici could be dist
o;,, guished in the distance.
T, Our horses and donkeys were waiting for
acL where we had left them and we rode rapid
tho back Uia the Hermitage, but over the plain
.Sa- lava, instead of by the zig-zag road, iowa
neIs POrtici. Ghita ran all the way by my side, B
e. rarely spoke, except to tell me when we 4
sa,, preached steep declivity. ! should have {
;S-. Jealous had she attended to any one else
i was quite angry at hearing her iestingly spok
The ,1 .uIsai le'tia 1o
fare 1iIo"' W." ""''' "" N'0 'iV'' w
It, ca'e seh'iiheht
the At Portici she lett us. The guides We
e to paid, and every body forgot the vocano-girl
g. had been of such signal service to u.s. look
ID of for her, and saw her standing in the court-yt
ard with the back of her little hand to her mouth
sf. a pensiXe attitude. "Ghita,' said /, approa,
,ome ing, al must give you something "-she star
pritv slightly" that you may buy remembrar
ugh with II OF our VISIT to the volcano" In sue
INIT, form, the present. ala not wrlte the amo'
lack down among my dlsbnrsements--was accep
cam frankly ana ireely' Inc poor glri was evlde
,aak ly in state of great emotion; a few kind wo