The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-10-17

ed, and rare viands and good win
were handed round in layish profu
sion. Even our tatterdemalion sui
phur workers were not forgotten, ant
the poor fellows got choicer food ant
daintier liquor, from the superfluity
of the banquet, than had ever gladden.
ed their palates.
I, perhaps, from sentiment of fals'
pride, had held myself aloof, and ha6
declined a good natured invitation OF
the part of the travelling 'excellencies
to be partaker of the banquet. But
scarcely know why,I lowered around
the blithe party, and, myself unseen
gazed upon them from amidst the ev
ergreen oaks and matted brushwood
There were present two or three
young ladies who were pretty and at
tractive, but the face that riveted my
attention was that of a little child-s
girl six or seven years old, with loose
curls Of pale gold, and a complexion
Of delicate pink and white-merely &
plump little smiling baby face, but &C
very, very like little sister of my
own, long since laid to rest beneath
the daisied turf, that felt it half pain.
full to look at her.
Slow and silent, on it crept, and
presently 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 fell
that mischief was indeed at hand, and
uplifted my voice to the utmost to
give the alarm.
A mighter voice than mine drowned
my feeble accents. There was q roar
as if thousand cannon had been fired
at once, and then scared up to the SIX y
a cloud of red hot ashes, failing in 8
fiery rain on lawn and wood, while
moss, grass and brush, and even entire
trees, began to blaze and crackle. Nor
was that all, for the treacherous crust
of the volcanic mountain heaved and
cracked, opening out into flaming fis.
sures which, in the form of a circle
rudely traced, seemed threatening to
surround US.
An indescribable period of panic
ensued. 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 festiyity,
and absorbed in the one impulse OF
self preservation. 1t was to no pur-
pose that l endeavored to preserve
something like discipline among our
own men. Fear was too strong for
my efforts to be availing, and inspec-
tor and visitors. guides, servants and
miners seemed to contend in the fran.
tic race for safety.
Hist, captain !-hOw I've run!-
well, I've found you,' said husky
voice at my sleeve.
I turned, and saw beside me rag.
ged imp of girl of some twelve or
thirteen years, with bare feet and un-
combed black hair, like the name of a
horse, whom l knew to be the grand.
daughter of the reputed widow, As.
sunta, and who seemed to own no
Christian name, since she was always
spoken of as the 'Gazza.'
'The grandmother sent me. How
I've run !'-and the quick painting OF
the young lungs confirmed this. Make
the best way to Cantana before il
catches you.'
Before what catches me2' I asked
astoRished.
sThe gulf-the gulf of fire = return.
ed the girl impatiently. She wishes
you naught but good, signor, SO she
sent me, but don't tell those houndt
with the heads Of swine, 'and she shook
her fist with a stealthy hate at ca.
rousing group of four sulphur seekers
and then before I could demand an
explanation she wac gone.
What did she portend?
turned my eyes toward the bar
rem track that lay, cinder strewn, be-
yond the greenery of the forest, and
saw something like a fiery serpent
come slowly crawling along the
ground, in an irregular course, the
black and grey ash heaps reddenine
as it advanced.
sThe gulfl-the gulf of fire ei-such
were the words that repeatedly reach
ed me as the crowd hurried down the
steep aud winding road, and knew
this phrase to indicate one of those oc.
casional outbreaks of the volcanic
forces below by which a fresh crater
Is established.
My first intention had been to pre-.
serve the money and stores which be-
longed to the government, but al
ready the huts were burning, and ths
disorder so general that none Needed
summons. I should have followed
the retreating mob, when, turning my
head, 1 beheld q spectacle which caus
ed my very heart to cease beating, sc
great was the horror of it. Sons fifty
yards off, on the other side of the fiery
chasm, that scanned the earth like
gaping mouth of some monstrou'
beast Of prey, stood alone the pretty
English child with golden hair hang
ing in wavy ringlets, who had previ
ously attracted my notice. She had
strayed, doubtless, from her friends il
the confusion, and now stood to al
appearance amused, but not alarmed
as she gazed at the bright hues of th'
incandescent sulphur. now cherry red
now saffron, then palest pink or dark
ening amethyst, that bubbled at he
| feet. 1t was fearful to see this limo