The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-09-08

CHAPTER XIII
II was about O'Clock when they
commenced their dimcult ascent: the
sky was splendid. and the Thermometer
stood az 50 degrees
Hatteras and his dog went first.
closely followed BY the others
But as they got higher. the ascent
became more and more dif1cult. for the
TANKS OF the mountain were almost
perpendicular. and Il required the ut
most care 10 keep from falling. Clouds
OF ashes whirled round them repeated
". and torrents OF lava barred their
passage.
Hatteras. however. climbed up the
steepest ascents with surprising agil-
fly, dIsdaining the help OF his stan
He arrived before long at a circular
rock. a sort OF plateau about ten feet
wide. A river Of boiling lava sur
rounded It. except in one part. where
It forked away 10 a higher rock. leav-
ing narrow passage. through which
Hatteras fearlessly passed
Here he stopped and his cOmpan-
ions managed 10 rejoin him He SEEM
ed TO be measuring with his eye the
distance he had yet TO get over. Hori-
E0ntally. he was not more than 200
yards from the top OF the crater. but
vertically he had nearly three times
that distance 70 traverse.
Hatteras.r said the doctor. 1T Is
enough we cannot go further.-
stop. then" he replied. In
strangely altered voice; I am going
higher
He had hardly uttered the words be-
fore Hatteras. BY 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 captain
must have persisted in that fiery gulf:
but there he was safe on the other
side. accompanied BY his faithful Duke,
who would not leave him
He speedily disappeared behind a
curtain Of smoke. and they heard his
voice growing fainter IN the distance.
shouting:
TO the north to the north; to the
top Of Mount Hatteras. Remember.
Mount Hatteras,~
An pursuit Of him was out OF the
question.
Al intervals. however. a glimpse Of /
him could be caught through the !
clouds Of smoke and showers OF ashes.
Hatteras did not even turn once to I
look back. but marched straight OF. !
carrying his country's flag attached to
his star
At last he reached the summit OF the
mountain. the mouth Of the crater a
Here the doctor hoped the infatuated {
man would stop at any rate. and n
would. perhaps. recover his senses. and e
expose himself to no more danger than
he descent involved. A
Once more he shouted: .
'Hatterasl Hatterasi~
There was such a pathos Of entrea-
y IN his tone that Altamont felt moved
10 his inmost soul
I'll save him yeti" he exclaimed.
md before Clawbonny could hinder 10
him. he had cleared with a bound the h
orrent Of fire, and was out Of sign,
lmong the rocks. rC
Meantime, Hatteras had mounted n al
'ock which overhung the crater ana al
itood waving his nag amidst abo,ver- in
u stones which rained down on him
Duke was by his side; but the moor at
'east was growing dizzy In such eIose Sd
proximity to the abyss al
Hatteras balanced his star WITH an. IN
and. and with the other sought m ana
he precise mathematical point uyhera bu
u the meridians Of the globe meet he sti
'oint on which Il was his sublime pur- be
lose to plant his foot. WI
All at once the rock gave way. ana tn
70 disappeared A cry Of horror broke an
rom his companions. and rang 10 fbe 70
% Of the mountain. clawbonnv .
bought his friend had persisted. ana DO,
~ buried forever IN the depths OF ne the
oicano. a second-onIy a second tar
nough i seemed an age--elapsed. ana ma
here was Aliamont and the dog hold ger
IS the Inflated Hatterasl Man ana z
og had caught him at the very mo- abI
lent when he disappeared N the the
byas '''' -,
hatters was saved Saved IN spite Sep
HIMSELF and half an hour later M the,
3 unconscious IN the arms OF his De- the
lairug companions. r
When he came to himself the doc bay
y looked ai him IN speechiess an say.
'ish' for there was 10 glance q rec NH.