Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-11

forth, up and down like disturbed tad
poles, clinging to the wave until the
very instant Of its fall, then disap'
pearing as though blotted out. The
salt smell of seaweed was in my nos
trils. / found the place pleasant.
With these few and scattered I'M
pressions we returned to the ship. 1t
| had been warped to secure anchor
age and snugged down. DR.. Scher-
merhorn and barrow were on deck
| waiting to go ashore.
l made my report. The two pas
sengers disappeared. They carried
lunch and would not be back until
nightfall. We had orders to pitch
large tent at suitable spot and to
tighten ship of the doctors personal
and scientific effects. By the time
this was accomplished the two had re-
| turned.
Its all right" barrow volunteered
| to Captain Selover as he came over
the side. We've found what we
want"
Their clothes were picked by brush
and their boots muddy. Next morn
ing Captain Selover detailed me to
especial work.
You'll take two of the men and go
ashore under Darrow's ORDERS said
he
barrow told US to take clothes for
week, an ak apiece and block and
/ tackle. We made up our ditty bags,
stepped into one of the surf boats and
were rowed ashore There barrow at
once took the lead.
Our way proceeded across the grass
fiat, through the opening of the mar
row canyon and so on back into the
interior by way of the bed through
which flowed the sulphur stream. The
country was badly eroded. Most of
the time we marched between Derpen-
dicular banks about forty feet high.
These We're occasionally broken by
smaller tributary arroyos of the same
sort 1t would have been impossible
to. reach the level of the upper coun-
try. The bed of the main arroyo was
fat and grown with grasses and herb
age of an extraordinary vividness. due,
| supposed, to the sulphur water. The
stream itself meandered aimlessly
through the broader bed. 1t steadily
grew warmer and the sulphur smell
more noticeable. Above us we could
see the sky and the sharp clay edge of
tie arroyo. l noticed the tracks of
: barrow and DR.. Schermerhorn made
the day before.
After mile of this the bottom ran
up nearly to the level of the sides, and
we stepped out on the floor of a little
valley almost surrounded by more
: hills.
1t was an extraordinary place, and
since much happened there, l must
give you an idea of it.
1t was round and nearly encircled by
naked painted hills. From its fiooI
came steam and roaring sound. The
steam blew here and there among the
pines on the floor; rose to eddy about
the naked painted hills. At one emo
we saw internationally a broad ascend
ing canyon, deep red and blue black
ending in the cone of q smoking vol
canO. The other seemed quite CLOSED
by the sheer hills. In fact, the only
exit was the route by which we haG
come.
For the hills were utterly precipi
tous. L suppose a man might have
made his way up to the various knobs
lodges and inequalities, but it would
have required long study and care
full head. l myself later worked my
way a short distance merely to exam
inc the texture of their marvellous col
or.
This was at once varied and of grea
body, not at all like the smooth, gloss
ed color of most rock, but soft ant
rich. You've seen painters palettes
1t was just like that, pasty and fat
There were reds of all shades, from
yeritable scarlet to a red lumber
greens, from sea green to emerald
several kinds of blue and an indeter
inmate purple mauve. The whole eff
feet was splendid and barbaric.
We stopped and gasped as it hit on
eyes. barrow alone was unmoved
He led the way forward and in an in
slant had disappeared behind the vel
of steam. Thrackles and Perdos
hung back murmuring. but at a shar
$. word from me gathered their courag
II in their two hands and proceeded.
IL We found that the first veil of stear
l. and fearful stencil of gases proceed
IS, ed from a miniature crater who's
e edge was heavily incrusted with
K white salt Beyond, close under tn
IS rise of the hill. was another. Betwee
n the two Percy barrow had stoppe
% and was waiting.
n He eyed us with half lazy, hal
e. quiZzical glance as we approached.
lie Think the place is going to bloy
a up?" he inquired with tinge of irony
IS "Well, it isn't" He turned to me
l. Here's where we shall stay 70
ID awhile. You and the men are to Gu
r a number of these pine trees for
Is house. Better pick out the little one.
K. about three or four inches through
ID They're easier to handle. I'll b
ID back by noon"
We set to work then in the roaring
'e steaming valley with the vapor swir
W ing about us, sometimes concealing u: