The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-10-06
FKiD.,lIINlssIAEpOE,E
49, BY JULES VERNE. sNoc%sz

IL was about : o'clock when thoy
commenced their difficult ascent
the sky was splendid. and the thor
mometcr stood 81 degrees.
Hatteras and his dog went first,
closely followed hy the others.
Il am afraid, said Johnson TO the
doctor.
mo, no. there's nothing to be
afraid OF: We are here"
SuK uuor SissaN % paIlaIal useq
But as they got higher. the ascent
became more aud more difficult, for
the TANKS OF the m0untin We're
almost perpendicular, and Il re
auirod the utmost care 10 keep from
falling. Clouds OF ashes whirled
round them repeatedly. and torrents
OF lava barred their passage.
In parts where these torrents ran
horizontally, the outside had become
hardened: while underneath was the
boiling lava. and every step the
travellers took had first To be tested
with the iron,tipped staff 20 avoid
being suddenly plunged into the
HcAiuihk UQuio-
AZ Intervals large fragments OF
red.hot rock were thrown up from
tho crater. and burst In the air like
bomb-shells. scattering the debris
TO enormous distances Ia all diFee-
tons
Hattcras, however. climbed up
the steepest ascents with surprising
agility. disdalnlng the help OF mis-
staff
River Of Boiling Lava.
He arrived before long nj a circu'
lar rock. q sort Of plateau about ~
feet wide. A river OF boiling lava
surrounded Il. except In one part
where IL forked away 20 a higher
rock. leaving 4 narrow passage,
through which Hatteras feariessly
passed.
Here he stopped. and hts com.
panions managed to rejoln him. He
seemed 20 be measuring with his
eye the distance he had yet TO get
over. Horizontally. he was not more
than 900 yards from the top OF the
crater, but vertically he had nearly
three times that distance to ira
verse.
The ascent had occupied three
hours already. Hatteras showed no
signs Of fatigue. while the others
were almost spent.
The summit OF the volcano ap-
peared inaccessible. and the doctor
determined at any price To prevent
Hatteras from attempting to pro
ceed.
~ Am GoinS Higher"
@Hatteras,~ said the doctor. III Is
enough: we cannot so further."
stop. then" he replied. IN
strange altered voice. Il am go
Ing higher
mo: Il Is useless: you are at the
pole already"
mo. no, higher. higheri"
I'VE shall not allow it-thas Is
all"
He had hardly uttered the words
before Hatteras, by q superhuman
effort. sprang over the boiling lava.
and was beyond the reach Of his
companions
A cry OF horror burst from every
lip. for they thought the poor cap
tain must have persisted in that
eiery gulf: but there he was safe on
the other side. accompanied by his
faithful Duke. who would not leave
him
He speedily disappeared behind q
curtain OF smoke. and they heard
HIS voice growing fainter IN the dis
lance, shouting.
TO the norfhi to the north 20
the top of Mount Hatterasl Remem-
Der Mount Hatterasl-
All pursuit Of him was out OF the
question: II was impossible TO leap
across the fiery torrent. and equally
impossible to get around H. Alta
mont. indeed, was mad enough to
make an attempt. and would Ger.
tAiniy have lost his life II the others /
had not held him back by main |
force.
Seen In Clouds Of Smoke.
''Hafteras, Hatteras." shouted |
the doctor. but no response was
heard save the faint bark Of Duke. !
At intervals. however. a glimpse |
Of him could be caught through the |
clouds OF smoke and showers OF |
ashes. Sometimes HIS head, some /
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