The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-08-12

IT. He plunged downward, loioNet
| by the rest of the party. Down into
the narrow ravine that lay between
the hills they went. Even as they
! reached it the awful cataract poured
| round the bend, its fiery tongues lick
ing up the grass, While 1urid flames
flashed up the trees in its path. Still
the fugitives struggled EDWARDS, ter
ror lending them strength. The moth
er was almost Painting, but the father
had his strong arm about her, and
continually breathed words of en-
coura cement.
Dense volumes of sulphurous vapor
borne by the air current, continually
swept over the fugitives, threatening
to stif1e them. Every now and again
, scattered droves of cattle and horses
gaIloped nadly by, With widestaring
terrified eyes. Too foolish and Devil
dered to turn to the hills, they thun-
dered away like leaves before a wind
storm.
Presently the heat grew unbearable
beneath the pressing smoke-clouds,
and, as the little party staggered pain
fully forward, out of the gloom leap
ed the great black and crimson flood,
almost upon them. One moment OF
Heaven!-the base of the slope was
reached. Trembling in every limb
they scrambled up its welcome side,
safe at last. while the awful lava-river
swept EDWARDS, carrying death and
destruction down the valley.
? Soon a new danger threatened the
now homeless wanderers, in the form
of grass-fires that swept quickly upon
them from the flank of the molten
flow. There was no time to rest; they
must push on. Thinking it best to
reach the nearest village as soon as
possible, Captain Brown urged the
little band forward, cheering them at
every step. By and by breeze
sprang up, which drove back the
smoke and flames. so that they We're
able to continue at a more comfort
able pace.
For several miles the narrow trail
which they had been following led
over the open country, but presently
it Joined the Government road, a mar
row but well-defined thoroughfare.
This, they knew, would take them to
the village some seven or eight miles
farther on. Up to this time the light
from the forest fires and from the
lava-f1ow itself had made travelling
easy, but now the road wound around
the foot of a large hill, and the dis
tant mountain with the cascades or
lava still squirting from its riven side.
and the long, Iurid streams trailing
down to the oceans verge, passed from
view. Although the reflected glow in
the sky gave light enough to enable
the travellers to find their path in the
open roadway when they passed within
the occasional groves of trees progress
became more difficult, especially as the
road for some distance now lay be-
tween ancient beds of lava, that had
been heaped and tumbled upon the
land by some prehistoric CONFUSION of
Nature.
Presently the native men who were
in advance stopped, stumbling about
in the darkness.
'Awue!' exclaimed one, in tone of
irritation, speaking in his own Ian
guage. Whats the matter with the
road? I think I must be foolish. II
I cannot see anything but stones,
stones, everywhere I STEP"
whats the trouble, Kapu?" called
the father from the rear.
II don't know" the fellow answer
ed. in puzzled tone. But the road, |
Come, boys, move ahead" urged |
Captain Brown, somewhat irritated at
the delay. Handing the baby to his |
wife, he stepped among the men, who |
we're hating irresolutely and convers- |
ng in low tones with one another. AS
ne approached he caught the words, |
'Pele,'' Trap and "All die" utter
I'd in Hawaiian. Quickly he strobe to
he front, only to trip and fall among
L tumble of sharp rocks. Rising. he
stumbled about for some time. but
at last convinced that the
Dad did really end in a huge heap
If stones, he gave up trying to go for
ward. On three sides of them lay the
I'D lava-beds, quite impossible in the
darkness. There seemed nothing to do
out sit down and wait for daylight to
ome and disclose what had happened
o the thoroughfare. 1t had been open
md clear only three days before, for
Captain Brown had made a trip on
horseback to the village. The hill was
90 far away for a landslip, had one
occurred during the earthquakes, to
ave reached this spot.
Presently one Of the natives scram-
led off over the high bank. In the dim
ght his sprawling figure was out
med for a moment against the sky,
hen only the sound against the booted
eet made as he clambered down on
he other side came to those who were
eft in the road.
Il got that road again now" came
ack the triumphant CALL He think
e goin' hide from me, 1 think, but I
atch him, you beti" Then the big
elbow came rambling back over the
tone-heap. Taking child in his
trong arms, he motioned to the party
, follow him.
I'VE get to town all right now he
aid, eheerfully.
After a difficult passage over the I'M
ven lava-bed they came suddenly
own on to the level road again
FETCHED away into the darkness as
erenely as if it had never done any :
ling astonishing at all.
This delay over, the wanderers pro
eeded without further mishap, and
wards morning arrived at the little
llage, where they were received with :
lie utmost kindness by the inhabi- :