The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-03

heavy, hollow sound, as If q cannon had
been dis charged tar down in the bowels
| of the earth.
| This new manifestation of the powers
of nature fairly startled me into de-
sire for fight, and l had already turned
| Tor the purpose, when suddenly there
! came sort Of rumbling crash, and the
ground, shaking, heaVing and rolling
under me, began to crumble off into the
dreadful abyss. / was thrown down,
and on my hands and knees, PRAYING
Heaven Ior mercy, was scrambliHg over
it and upwards to save myself from
most horrible fate, when two blocks,
rolling together, caught my feet and legs
between them, and without crushing
them held them as il in a vice. Then
came another crash and crumbe, the
lava slid away from behind me, and |
was lett upon the very verge OF the aw-
full gulf, now Widened to some fifteen or
twenty feet, down which l looked with
horror-straiued eyes, ouly to see dark
ness and death below and breathe tne
almost sutfocating yapOrs that rushed
up from that sc mIngly bottonless pit.
On, the horrors of lhat awful moment!
what pen or Tongue can portray Them?
There, helpless but conscious prIs-
oner, suspended over the mouth OF
black ana heated abyss, tu be hurried
downward by the next great throe OF
trembling nature!
"Help, help, help!-for the love OF
heaven, helpW screamed, in wild de-
spair.
looked up to catch glimpse Of my
guide; but he was gone, and l mad noun
lng to rely Oh but the mercy OF heaven;
and prayed as never prayed before,
for forgiveness OF my sins, that they
might not follow me to judgment. IL
might be second-lt might Ue ID minute
it night be an hOur-that l snUula
have TO undergo living deaLn; bu., be
the time long or short. l felt that there
was no escape from a doom that even
now makes me grow pale, and shudder
when | think Ol ii. Above me was a
clear blue sky-beneath me, a black and
horrible abyss-around me, slckening
vapOr that made my brain grow zzy.
Rumbling and hISsing sounds warned
me that another convulsion mlgnt OC-
cur at any moment, and another would
be the last Of NE. Home and friends l
should never BEE again, and my tomb
| would be the volcanic Hecla! L strove
with lhe madness oi desperation to DIS
engage my imprisoned limbs, but L
mIguG a6 well have attempted to move d
mountain. There was, fixed and
! Ia ,teneu for The terrible death l WAS
awaiting. Ou, mercy! what IA tateI
Suddenly L heard a shout; and look
ing around L beneld, Win feelings L can
never describe, my faithful guide
uastening down the rugged sides of the
crater to my relief. H. mad fed in ter
ror at the first alarming demonstration,
but had nouly returned TO save me, Ii
possible, by riskIng his life for mine.
~ warned you, MASTER" he said, as he
came up painting, his eyes hall starting
| from his mead, ana his whole counten-
ance expressing cOmnlngled terror and
pity.
You did-you didw cried; 'but oh !
| forgive and save meW
You are alreauy forgiven, master;
anu L will save you If can--saVe you, or
perish with you."
Instantly he set TO work with his iron
| pointed stick to break the lava around
my limbs, but had scarcely made any
progress, when again the earth trembled,
and the blocks parted, one OF them roll.
ing down INTO the yawning Chasm with IA
uuil, hollow sound. sprang forward
L seized nand of The gulde-we both
struggled hard, and the next moment We
uad both fallen, locked in each Others
arms, upon The solil earth above. l was
Tree, but still upon the verge OF the pit
and any moment we might be hurled tc
destruction.
"Qulck, masterp" cried the guide; "up
uni md run for your H. ev'
l staggered TO my feet, with wild cry
of hope and tear, and, half supported by
my faithful companion, hurried up tue
sloping sides of the crater. AS WI
reached the ridge above, the grount
shook with heavy explosion; and look
ing back, / Deheld with horror u da, k
smoking pit where we had 50 latel,
stood.
And theh, without waiting TO Sc,
more, turned and fled over The rougl
ground as last as my bruised llmU
would let me. We reached our horse
III safety, and, hurrying down the mount
ain, gave the alarm 70 The villagers, wnt
LINED US in our fight across The coun
Try till sale distance WAS gained
Here | bade auieu TO my faithful guide
reward ing him as man grateful Tor tn,
preservation Of his life might he sup
, posed to DO.
A few days la er, when the lUng-silen
, Hecla was again conVulslng the island
and sending ,orth its mighty tongues l
fire and stream OF lava, / was far ava
, from the sublime anu awful scene
thanking Heaven | was alive TO tell tN
story OF my wonderful esc.pe rom
turning tomb.