The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-12


SIDE az
pebble. As II reached the surface. along
with the splash faint hiss was audible.
For an instant fiery worms wriggled
and dArted about Then little ruby
cloud appeared IN the water. II grew
TIL Il glowed like the sunset.
y A seethinE sound was heard, and we
perceived that the hue was caused by
an Inflnitude OF little fiery bubbles;
and as they rose and burst. a pale blue
flame began TO play above the water
Pale. but hot-horribly hot. We could
feel its whitening blast even where we
stood. II mounted higher, II lowered
above MS.
Run! Rum" screamed the pro-
fessor And we ran us II hell had
opened at our feet.
Even so, our delay had well-nlsh
cost our lives. Breathless, scorched.
shudderlnE. We reached the brow Of
the mountain. Here VIZ lay fat, and
shielding our faces peered back over
the edge.
All the water was now red as sum
shot wine:the whole lake was SETTLING
like q caIdrun. The rocky walls shone
rudy with the retiectlOn-Or, was II
possible that they were growing red
with the heat? The blue flames united
to the sky In tall. faint, waverlng coll
umn, much like the flame OF an alcohol
lamp-but half a mile hIgh
And the heat-oh! the heat was
binding. Our flesh was blistered; the
very hair upon our heads was crink-
ling, burning. Crazy with pain and ter
ror we rolled down the slope, leRped.
ran. plunged. fell. and at last brought
up In u deep ravine near the foot OF the
mountain. where considerable stream
Rushed from n cavern. How cool and
comforting Its splashipR seemed!
We now lay in the shadow OF the
hill: but Just over our heads sireamed
the blue light and consuming artiOr of
that fiery column from which we had
led, glinting upon the rocks and with
ering the scanty vegetation for miles
around. We saw acres of Etunted
eyergTeens below Us, chtinkins, crisp
ing 10 tender In that inordlnRte glow;
then the dry needles sparicfed, and here
and there tree spOuted up fountain
OF red flame. Soon the whole forest
was ablaze beyond uH, and our ravine
was in shadow no longer.
Then we crept back into the cavern
OF the roaring stream. far under the
mountain, finding precArlouS toothold
by the margin OF the water. TIL at last
only o faint glow showed the opening
by which we had entered. Here the
rugged roof ynulted higher, and was
lost in darkness. We sunk prone on
shelf OF rock beside the EuTgllng tor
rent; the spray dashed over our ach-
Ing limbs, and we found relief.
But the place was full Of noises
Not merely the voice OF the pouring
waters that mosned and echoed every
where. More and more frequent came
81 "a
heavy thunder. and a trempT rs "
the mountain shuddered to It's roots.
Doubtless the raging furnace. above
was cracking the ellis that walled the
lake: the overheutcd ieagcs we're burst
Ing,
persptred under the raining spray;
Il seemed TO me that the floor on
which lay was growing warmer
lnved my hand in the running water,
but jerked II back with n cry; the
stream was scalding hot. q rudy
sparkle seethed In Its current; the
vault above me was becoming family
visible: as EaZed, the fantastic cavern
dome grew rosy as the morning sky.
with q scream OF terror sprang
toward the entrance. great light
famed behind me: strong gust OF
FIRE and wind swept me onward, TIL
found myself fallen on the bank OF the
FaP!ae outside. a pale blue blow-pipe
flame went Kissing past me. with u
came shFieks OF agony more terrible
than all the gronningS OF the torment
ed hfii--RhFiekS OF human nngulAh-1nd
a strange upe.lIke figure was hung be-
side me and lay wFlthIng. II was the
professor, my friend. but scared and
branded almost beyond recognition.
His clothing was burned away; OF
his struggling locks and black silky
beard not hair remained, His Ions
arms twttched, and his slender Fingers
ciutched tho parched, crumbllnB moss
as he lay tn pain incxpresSihle. Thus
science had rewarded her most gifted
Yet even In that supreme moment
nc was not forGetfui, Twas the out
lett" he Knsped. ''rhe ferment has
worked through. oh, my God! Run
cut OF the stream or the world Is lost"
f1,C mt. CnNTrINffE0t