The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-11
I5C batiste, SIC.
ISC lawn. 7LC.

serted. where in a distant age had been
the most gigantic activity
But raising NV eyes from this fire.
biighted scene, and turning them toward
the hUTizoR, a StiIl more marvellous sight
was spread out before me- l stood per
hans a mile above vast sea OF cloud
which far below. extended from the
mountain side 10 the horizon Throughout
tn. entire gigantic circle there was no
evidence Of earth below the clouds. There
surrounding this nre-biastec House OF
the sun. was splendid imitation or the
great Polar Sea-lce Hoes, snow uelGS, Ice
ber5s. and bits OF open water Anc pour
Ing down upon them its dazzling rays the
trOpic sun was fast sinking in the west
As absolutely mOtICnless as the polar ice
they lay. yet I knew that beneath them
the warm trade wind was blowing bTlskiy-
while there above them another colder
wind chilled me with its breath
In a few moments the sun plunged MS
hot face in the apparently frozen sea and
the whole world was bathed II mora mar
velouS cOlOrS =han I had ever dreamed OF
The west was blazing with scarlet and
gOlC and all the million intermediate
tints but I turned from this dazzling goT-
geousness to the east. where, ssS the sun
sank below the level OF the crater rim,
the whole vast canopy, from elge 70
zeEith was softly tinted with broad bands
Of most delicate pink shading through
opals into blue, and upward into gentle.
pearly grey.
Long il fingered. and I stood a black
speck ag5inst the fading sky. High over
head the full moon hung in pale tX-
pectancy. awaiting her urn to reign over
the world. Gradually she assumed con
troll, growing IL briiiianCe, tiil x seemed
as though q paIar. whittier, colder sun had
risen from the polar deepS. Such light
as the moon shed through that clear.
silent air upon that dark crater and the
SnuStiy Clouds, l had never seen. nor do
I expect 20 see again Still ! fingered
there alone. striving to penetrate the deep
shadows OF the abyss at my feet. when
suddenly there came rush Of invisible
wings and the EOarSe. inaTtlCulate cry OF
a St. night creature which haUHts the
crater. ard which the frightened native
guide said was The moaning soul or q dead
chief. At length the paugs of hunger
drove me from the rim Of the crater 10
where the guide had kindIed 4 fire and
prepared a simple supper with 4 DELI
CiJuS pineapple for dessert This finished.
aid the horses fed. blauketed, and tied
in the lee OF a protecting ledge, I again
sought the jagged edge IF that mysterious
abyss
The thermometer had fallen to forty
which. for the inhabitants of the tropics
is bitter cold The horses shivered ever
beneath their blankets. and finally
wrapped myself in my rug. and, stretch
ing my feet to the fire. which the guide
fed from time to time. ! pillOWCd my head
on my saddle and fell into a troubled
sleep. But even in my sleep the presence
of the weird crater and the mOonlit clouds
far below haunted me. and I rose Otter
to look again upon their strange beauty
until finally the eastern darkness hegaT
to pale. and gradually 70 my Sloating eve.
We're unfoided the glCxies of the sunrise
! Now the scarlet and gold pageantry was
! in the east. while all the western sky was
soft with pearl and opal It was with Te.
gret that I ans wered the differentiated cal
/ head downward toward the world ones
mOTe.-NeW York Evening Post.