The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-06-01

ton of affairs, and. to obtain his permits
sion for a change of quarters.
Pay day arrived, and with it the In
spettore, hut not alone. With him came
a party Of travellers most of whom rode
mules, while their guides, porters, serv.
ants and interpreter made up quite an i'm
/ pasipgs cortege. None but the wealthy
can atfSrd to bring with them so much
paraphernalia, and could easily believe
the Inspector that the newcomers were,
as he said, Illustrissimi Inglesi," who
had been especially recommended to his
good offices by the Governor of the pro-
vince.
There were several ladies of the party,
|whfsh cqasssted, as attefNArd learned,
gilmore ha4sone family and l think il
WIS the sight of thoh plAHed hats and
tluttering dress, and the sound of their
merry laughter, that made me hang back
and keep aloof, ashamed of my rough
garb and weather. beaten aspect, while
my chief, nothing 10th, did the honors OF
tie sulphur mine, about which he prac.
tically knew SO little, descanting glibly to
/ his fair listeners on the marvels of the
place, and Sinking as they grew enthu.
siastic concerning the lovely tints of the
glowing sulphur.
The weather was of the finest, the
spring sky was of the purest blue, and
the baimy air seemed to caress the cheek
it famed. overheard one of the En-
glish ladies' say to another that the climate
seemed perfection. wondered how she
would have enjoyed the whistling wind
and ratlling hail of the winter storms.
Then came the dinner-a sort of picnic
on a: splendid scale, for the cooks from
the Hotel Reale at Catania, had been
busy in their improvised kitchen, and the
hampers had been unpacked, and rare
viandS and good wine were handed round
/ in lavish profusion. Even our tatterde-
| malion sulphur workers we're not forgot
| ten, and the poor fellows got choicer food
and daintier liquor, from the supertluity
of the banquet, than had ever gladdentd
their palates.
| 1, perhaps, from q sentiment of false
pride, had held myself aloof, and had de-
clined a good natured invitation on the
part of the travelling "excellencies"
to be partaker of the banquet.
But, I scarcely know why, l how
cred around, the blithe party, and,
myself unseen, gazed upon them
from amidst sthe evergreen oaks and
matted brushwood. There were present
two or three young ladies who were pretty
and attractive, but the face that rivetei
my attention was that of little child-a
girl six or seven years old, with loose
curls of pale gold, and complexion of
delicate pink and white-merely plump
little smiling baby-face, but so very, very
like little sister of my own, long since
laid to rest beneath the daisied turf, that
felt it half painfal to look at her.
Hist, Capitan!-how I've run!-well,
I've found yOu," said husky voice in
the Sicilian patois, as hand plucked at
my sleeve.
turned, and saw beside me a ragged
imp of a girl of some twelve or thirteen
years, with bare feet and uncombed black
hair, like the name of horse, whom
knew to be a granddaughter of the re-
puted witch, Assunta, and who seemed to
own no Christian name, since she was al
ways spoken of as the "Gazza."
"The grandmother sent me. How I've
rutland the qLick. painting of her
young lungs confirmed this. Make the
best of your way to Catania before it
catches you"
Before what catches me!" asked as
tonished. ~
1.-THE gulf-the gulf of firew returned
the girl impatienuy. "She wishes you
naught but good, Signor, Sc she sent me,
but don't tell those hounds with the heads
of swine," and she shook her fist, with .
s1ealthy hate, at a. carousing grouped our
sulphur.seekers, and then before l could
demand an explanation was gone.
What did this portend?
turned my eyes toward the barren
track that lay, 'cinder- strewn, beyond the
greenery of the forest, and saw something
like fiery serpent come slowly crawling
along the ground, in an irregular course,
the black and gray ash-heaps reddening
as it advanced.
Slow and silent, on it crept, and pres
entity l saw the dry moss and dead leaves
Oh the outskirts Of the wood suddenly
take fire, as though the flaming breath OF
then l felt that mischief was indeed at
hand, and uplitted my voice to the utmost
to give the alarm. !!
A mightier voice than mine drowned
my feeble accents. There was roar as
if thousand cannon had been fired at
once, and then there scared up to the
sky q cloud of red hot ashes, falling in q
fiery rain on lawn and wood, while moss,
grass and brush, and even entire trees, be-
gan to blaze and crackle. Nor was this all,
for the treacherous crust of the volcanic
mountain heaved and cracked, opening
out into flaming assures which, in the
form of a circle rudely traced, seemed
threatening to surround us.
An mdescribable period of panic en-
sued: The gay picnic party broke up,
and its members, mixed pell-mell with
the terrified sulphur workers, hurried
headlong down the hillside, some on
1nn1Qa h11f fonf hor nd I'm
late scene OF. festivity,, and absorbed in
the one impulse Of self preservation. It
was tono purpose Sthat fFsendeavored to
preserve something like discipline among
our own meR:s Fear was too strong, for
my efforts to be awaiting. and inspector
and visitors, guides, servants and miners
seemed to contend in the, frantic race for
safety..x "a. * - ~ a. ~ - !. VI !
1.-The gulf!-the gulf of fire !''-such
were the, words that fspstadiy ..feached
me as the crowts hdrried down the steep
and winding load, and, /. knew this
phrase 70 indicate one Of those occasional
| outbreaks Of the volcanic forces below
by which fresh crater is established,
My first intention had been to preserve
the money and stores which be!ofr to
the Government, but already the huts
were burning, and the disorder 80 general
that none needed my summons. l should
have followed the retreating mob, when,
turning my head, l. beheld spectacle
which caused my very heartto cease beat
ing, so great was the horror oft. Some fifty
yards off, on the other side of fiery
Echasm, that scanned tie earth like the
Egapipg nio6thsof some .molstrous beast
Of prey, stood alone the pretty English
child. with golden hair hanging in Wayy
NOTICE. She had stIayed, doubtless, ffdm
her friends in the confusion, and now
stood to all, appearance amused, put not
alarmed, as she gazed at the bright hues
of the iEcandescent sulphur, now cherry
teds now saffron, THIN paleet pink or
darkening amethyst, that dubbed at her
feet It was fearful to see the innocent
young thing SO unconscious of her dan
ger, smiling, as it were, iRsthe very jaws
Of Death. 50 - as sss5 - e.
H@ the risk been greater one, j gould
not have RESISTED the impulse which