The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-08-12
4 Race With a Lava-FlOW
MzEgNsEzagMsHaHgH8m7
By May Rothwell.

visited by a series of earthquakes that
lasted for ten or twelve days. At first
they were mere tremors, but each day
the quaking grew in depth and strength
until it seemed to the perturbed in
habitants of the locality that the whole
world must be quivering.
Some way up the southwestern Slope
of the beautiful, snow-crowned noun
tain of Mauna Loa was situated an
extensive cattle ranch owned by nv
grandfather, Captain Robert Brown, a
retired whaler. The green acres stretch
ed away in all directions from the low
ranch house, over rolling plains and
wooded hills.
One evening the sun was slowly set
ting behind the vast shoulder of the
mountain, and the sea, three Or four
miles away, lay like a great mirror
rejecting the tranquil sky. Within the
farmhouse the busy mother was tuck
ing the tired little ones into their beds
Lie still, SUSIE" she commsnded ego
to sleep. The 'shaky-shakies' won't
hurt you; the house is strong and
mother is near you all the time. Jimmy,
don't pull Willie's toes! Good night
And she left them alone.
Passing along a wide veranda she en-
tered a large living-room, where the
older members of the family were seat
ed around a table of generous dimen-
sions.
Come, mother said a tall girl of
fourteen, I'VE are waiting for you.
Dinner-such as it isis ready But,
really, il is not very poor meal. con-
sidering that it was cooked out of doors
with the four winds of heaven to blow
the smoke into everything. Why
mother, what is the trouble?" she con-
oily Sta rfin hos rrI1iI
other children looked anxiously in her
direction.
Nothing dears,' replied Mrs. Brown
sinking into a. chair YEARLY; I'm only
nervous. II think I'm tired of these
earthquakes. They are getting heavier
all the time. There isn't a stone wall
left standing; and because Of that, your
father says. all the cattle and horses
are out of the corrals and are wander
ing away
"Oh. never mind, mother if they
are replied Katie. 1.-THE native boys
can drive them in as soon as the walls
are rebuilt She glanced out of the
window at the distant pastures, dotted
with straying stock.
Eyes, I know; but suppose we should
need the horses suddenly. In case of
a lava-f1ow we might have to fly for
our lives
s'Oh, the idea, mother! AS If the
lava would come near us, even If it
should break out in this part of the
country" laughed the girl "We shan
need the horses, so don't worry. Come,
now, and have your dinner. Here is
father; I'll run out and make the tea.
Don't wait for me: the stove burns so
poorly that it will no doubt be some
time before the kettle boils.'' With
that she tripped lightly out of the
house.
AS the girl approached the stove
which had been removed from the
kitchen, where there was danger of its
being upset during a severe earth
tremor and setting fire to the house.
an old native woman Strengthened her
bent shoulders and lifted her wrinkled
face. Seated upon the ground, she had
been feeding the fire with bits of dry
chips The stove, apparently ind gnant
at the treatment that had been ac-l
corded it, sullenly smoked at every
pore.
Whats the matter, Liza !" laughed |
Kate, as she drew the big iron kettle |
forward and stirred up the fire. Are
your poor eyes smarting? Well you /,
can go now; I will take care of the fire.
Go and get dinner for yourself and the /
old man." She spoke in Hawaiian, for
the old woman understood no English.
Just then, from the direction of the
mountain, came a deep rumble that
grew swiftly into a roar. violent
quivering seemed to agitate the solid
earth, the old woman was hurled to the
ground, and even Katie lost her balance
as the sickening wave of motion passed
beneath them. The startled girl saw
the house totter and the tall eucaiyp-
tus trees reel until their slender tops
snapped against the evening sky.
From the house there came the screams
of frightened children and the crashing
of falling crockery.
Katie lay still, dazed and nauseateo,
even when the terrible quake was gone.
dying away with decreasing roar and
rumble.
..Awue. awue!' walled poor old Liza.
as she slowly picked herself up. Its
Pellets She's angry with us!' She
fastened off to her little grass hut, In
the doorway of which her ancient nus
band sat shaking his white head
drearily.
Kate watched the frightened animals
running about the fields snort1ng, with
heads turning from side to side. Ihey
could not understand whence came the
strange horror that bore the eartn
away from beneath their feet. Then,
the water having at last boiled, the
girl filed the teapot and set the great
kettle on the ground, going quickly
back into the house.
eeWeu Kate" remarked her father
as she entered the room. that was
big one. wasn't it? L guess Madame
Pele is going to try to keep us awake
tonight, eh?" and he laughed cheer-
fully.
II don't mean that she shall keep
me- awake" retorted the girl, lightly. $
..She will have to do something more
than shake if that is to be accom- ]
plished." {
Again-as though in answer to her t
vords-there came that dreadful roar I
followed by the soul jar. Ihe I
table danced, the house pitched ike g
shin at sea and all was confusion for +