Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-12-02

communicates luXuriance to every kind of
vegetation, unknown in parts ofthc world.
But in spite of this knowledge, you are led by
the example of the inhabitants, to put conf
dence i'll appearances, and to imagine that
those more stupendous Phlegrean fields win
continue safely for your time to hang floating
over subterranean fires, displaying their beauty
and subimity, and concealing altogether from
the eye the fearful apparatus by which their
splendors are produced.
AS everybody knows, the ascent of Mount
1Etna is not to be accomplished in an hour or
two. If you wish to reach it by daybreak,
thatyou may witness sunrise from its summit,
you must set out early the evening before. If
your mules are vigorous, you may, perhaps,
find time for short nap, little after mid
night, and re- commence the ascent about three
O'Clock. In the case of Mr.. Fennel and his
companions, the mules performed their part
with great perseverance and fidelity. If you
have travelled by night in mountainous and
woody country, you must know what an excl
ting thing it is; what gulfs of shadow you
gaze at from time to time, straining your eyes
in vain ito penetrate into their depths; what
what sounds, wild and startling, and proceed
ing from you know not what cause, come at in
tervals through the woods; and how your heart
beats with something very much like fear but
yet not unmingled with pleasure, as you spring
over chasms, after the example of your guide,
and climb zigzag along the face of cliffs which
seem inclined to carry you up higher than
RahaI's DrOipct1l tOyar inf hn Sl-v
1t was already one O'Clock, when the guides,
who are perfectly despotic during such under
takings, pronounced it time to halt and take
little refreshment; after which, if so inclined,
the whole party, they said. might sleep for two
hours without running the least risk of not
reaching the edge of the crater by sunrise.
They did halt, and while the servants were
kindling fire with dried wood, which lay a.
bout in plenty, Mr.. Fennel amused himself
with looking down the vast sweeps of the
mountain towards the sea. In that part of the
world, nobody appears to sit up late, and at
the time to which l now refer, the -Sicilian ci-
ties had no lamps. You consequently beheld
nothing on shore, save duSky Irregularities de-
scending and undulating to the extreme verge
of the shore. But the sea, when it bares its
breast to the stars, has always faint glmmer
diiused over it. On the present occasion,
there were patches of phosphorescence which,
ike small luminous isles, flashed and foated
between you and the Tarentine promontory.
Science may dissipate as it pleases the mys-
terry OF these phenomena, but nothing can still
that disquietude of the heart with which you
contemplate the waves on fire, looking like SO
many glow worms several leagues in dimen-
sionS floating leisurely away before the wind.
From enjoying this curious prospect, Mr. Fen
mel was called away by the announcement that
supper was ready. He then joined his com
panions, ate, drank, and, wrapped in his cloak,
went to sleep, like red Indian, with his feet
towards the fire.
We men very clever in way, but ma
ture is often too many for US. According to
their day and generation, those travellers were
highly scientific, knew all about volcanoes,
could dissertate learnedly on gases, and de-
eide beforehand to an inch how far a heavy
body, by whatever cause put in motion, could
travel in two hours. With regard to the
guides, it was altogether impossible that they
could ever be taken mapping they understood
self. and could always decide whole days be-
forehand whit ne was going to do next. New
crtheless he now stole march upon them.
Awaking with a start, they surprised at
feeling warmth much greater than their
wood-fire was calculated to impart; the sky,
moreover, was filled with bloodred glare,
which bewildered at once their senses and their
Imagination, and the terrible idea suggested
itself to their minds that the eruption was in
full progress. Indeed, they had but to look
around them to discover undeniable proof of
| it. They were standing on a knoll skirted on
the side of the cone with trees, and on the
! right and left, broad stream of fire, glowing
like furnace, was rushing down into the
plain, overthrowing everything in its passage
trees, rocks, and, where it encountered
them, human dwellings. Never did Mr. Fen
mel witness anything so awful as the red glare
cast upon the woods by the desolating torrent
as it swept on. He turned to the guides; who
| stood beside him paralyzed with terror.
| ssHow are we to get out of this situation ~
inquired he.
s.We don't know they replied, s'we have
never before been placed in such circumstan-
| ces. But We must make some movement, and
that speedily, too, or we shall be burned to
| cnders where we stand. Look the lava is
| coming, and those vast trees are bending and
| cracking at its touch like fine grass"
.sWell," replied the traveller, ''lead the way
Won must know it better than we-that we
NAV get out in the plain country before the IL
ery streams meet below, and hem US IN.
| Jaclared the puideS s.fOr