The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-31


J sionS, and dull red flames began to
flicker about the crater. The ground
| beneath them trembl"d ominously.
= Hurry up, Dick" cried Harry
There's going to be an eruption,
sure~
He had hardly spoken when a tre-
mendous roar came. The whole upper
} part of the mountain disappeared in a
burst Of flams and smoke. Great
stones 5egan to fall about them, and
deluge Of fiery lava came pouring down
the sides of the peak.
The boys put down their instruments
and ram for their lives.
They reached the gorge leading to
the sea, and plunged headlong down
1t. Half the distance had been COW
cred without mishap when Dick, look
ing behind, gave a cry of horror:
run higher up, Harry! Keep out
of the middlew
At the head of the ravine appeared
a crest of glowing lava, which hung
for moment on the verge, and then
darted down toward them. The boys
leaped up to the higher ground above
the middle of the gorge, still keeping
on in their rapid course. And it was
well that they did so! In fifteen sec
onds lava stream six feet deep was
flowing down the channel where they
had been runningl
1t overlook and passed them, and
| q 70 fbnr nj 10
the deepest part of the ravine, plunged,
kissing and steaming, into the sea
about hundred feet from the landing
place. At it passed the base of the
cliffs, it had swerved abruptly toward
their foot, almost touching it, and cut
ting off the boys retreat to the water
For an instant they stood in horror,
looking at the crawling stream of
boiling lava. Then the danger of their
situation reused them to action.
"Qulck, Harryw cried Dick. run
for your life! It's only six feet broad
below there! We must jump itr'
They dashed on over the boulders to
a point farther down, where the cur
rent of lava was narrow. Dick, with
out pausing moment, gave a quick
leap that landed him on the other side.
AS he passed over the stream, the
intense heat seemed to scorch his
clothing.
| Having heard a cry just as he
| jumped, Dick looked about for Harry.
On the other side of the fiery current
| hn saw bis friand c+rurplipo 1o ,,;eo
from the ground, and falling back,
Harry had twisted his ankle on a
slippery stone, and could not stand
upon his feet.
| Just for an instant Dick hesitated,
uncertain what to do Then he ran
back short way to get a start, and
another leap carried him back over the
lava. A faint cheer from the brig came
to his ears, showing that his action was
appreciated. He put his arm about
Harry, and half-carried. half-dragged
him back toward the foot of the cliff.
With sudden swelling, the width
of the current increased a foot on
each side.
80 Dick" groaned Harry, "don't
trouble with me! Save yourself. You
can jump it yet. Quick" he added.
It's growing broader every minute!,
1t is no shame to the memory of
Richard Scoresby to say that for a
moment the wild desire for life, the in
stinct Of self-preservation, came upon
him strongly. To remain where he
was seemed but to invite speedy and
terrible death. He could not save his
companion. At best he could only die
helplessly with him.
He looked at the red stream. 1t had
broadened to twelve feet, but it was
not yet too late.
Jump, Dick" moaned Harry. "You
can't help me any more. Go, and God
bless you Quick before it's too later
mo, Harry" Dick said. Here
stay with you. Whatever comes to
us Wen meet together"
The next minute took away the last
possibility of escape across the flood
With "a sudden surge the stream broad
ened to twenty feet, red, fierce and i'm
passable.
Just behind them was a mound of
debris several feet high, which had
fallen from the oyerhanging cliff at
this spot, leaving a space between it
and the foot of the rocks, and thus
affording some protection against the
heat of the stream in front. Dick
drew Harry behind this natural ram
part, and they Were able to breathe
more freely, for the current of cool
air drew in from the sea along the
base of the wall. Here they awaited
what might come.
Meanwhile Captain Lambe, when
the eruption began, gave orders to
weigh anchor on the Eudoca and get
the vessel under way, saying to his
first lieutenant "If one of those stones
falls aboard it may send us to the bot
tom or explode the magazine. We
must get out of range until the erup-
| ton is over"
| Just then the boys appeared at the