The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-06-21

quet, than had ever gladdened their
palates.
1, perhaps from a sentiment of false
pride, had held myself aloof, and had
declined a good natured invitation on the
part of the travelling excellencies" to
be partaker of tie banquet. But, 1
scarcely know why, lowered around
the bithe party, and, myself unseen,
gazed upon them from amidst tie ever
green oaks and matted brushwood.
There were present two or three young
ladies' who were pretty and attractive,
but the face that riveted 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 aplump little smiling
baby face, but 80 very, very like a little
sister of my own, long since laid to rest
beneath the daisied turf, that I felt it
half painful to look at her.
Hist, captain l-how-I've run l.
well, I've found you, "said husky voice
in til sicilian patois, as hand plucked
| at my sleeve.
turned, and saw beside me ragged
imp OF girl of some twelve or thirteen
years, with bare feet and uncombed
black hair, like the name of horse,
whom L knew to be granddaughter of
the reputed witch Assunta, and who
seemed to own no Christian name, since
she was always spoken of as tho "Gaz-
"a"
The grandmother sent me. How
I've run !'-and the quick painting of
her young lungs confirmed this.
Make the best OF your way to Catania
before it catches you"
"Before what catches me2" asked I,
astonished.
"The gulf-the gulf of fre!" return
ed tho girl, impatiently. "She wishes
you naught but good, signor, so she
sent me, but don't tell those hounds
with the heads of swine," and she shook
her fist, with a stealthy hate, at carous-
ing group OF our sulphur seekers, and
then before l could demand an explana-
ton was gone.
What did this portend2
turned my eyes toward the barren
track that lay, cinder strewn, beyond
the greencry of the forest, and saw
something like O fiery serpent come
slowly creeping 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
emily saw the dry moss and dead leaves
on the outskirts of the wood suddenly
take fire, as though the flaming breath
of the giant serpent had kindled them.
And then I felt that mischief WAS in
deed at hand, and uplifted my voice to
the utmost to give the alarm.
A mightier voice than mine drowned
my feeble accents. There was roar
as if O thousand cannon had been fired
at once, and then there scared up to the
sky cloud Of red-hot ashes, falling in
fiery rain on lawn and wood while
moss, grass, and brush, and even entire
trees, begun to blaze and crackle. Nor
was this all, for the treacherous crust of
the volcanic mountain heaved and
cracked, opening out into flaming fis.
sures which, in the form of circle rude
ly traced, seemed threatening to sur
round us.
An indescribable 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
mules, but most on foot, abandoning
the late scene of festivity, and absorbed
in the one impulse of self-preservation
to preserve something like discipline
strong for my efforts to be availing, and
inspector and visitors, guides, servants
and miners seemed to contend in the
frantic race for safety.
The gulf!-th gulf of fire '-such
were the words that repeatedly reached
me as the crowd hurried down the steep
and winding road, and L knew the
phrase to indicate one of those occa-
sional outbreaks of the volcanic forces
below by which fresh crater is estab-
iished.
My first intention had been to pre-
serve the money and stores which be-
long to government, but already the
huts were burning, and the disorder so
general that none needed my summons.
1 should have followed the retreating
mob, when, turning my head, beheld
a spectacle which caused my very heart
to cease beating, so great was the horror
OF it. Some fifty yards off, on the other
side of fiery chasm, that scanned the
earth like the gaping mouth of some
monstrous beast of prey, stood alone the
pretty English child, with golden hair
hanging in wavy ringlets, who had pre-
viously attracted my notice. She had
strayed, doubtless, from her friends in
the confusion, and now stood to all ap-
pearance amused, but not alarmed, as
she gazed at the bright hues of the in
candescent sulphur, now cherry red,
now saffron, then palest pink or darken-
ing amethyst, that bubbled at her feet.
1t was fearful to see the innocent young
thing, 80 unconscious of her danger,
smiling as it were in the very jaws of
death.
Had the risk been a greater one,
could not have resisted the impulse
which prompted me; and almost before
had time to realize what was doing,
| II hnI IaI u n