152 Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 



men, it did not run off into the trench. One fact, having an 

 important bearing on the ultimate success of their enterprize, 

 had escaped their observation. The sand under the hard-pan 

 was a species of quicksand ; and the issuing stream, instead of 

 flowing obhquely towards the dechvity, began to sink perpendi- 

 cularly beneath the hard-pan, and to work down a portion of the 

 quicksand, so that it disappeared with the water. In a few mo- 

 ments a large amount of the sand under the hard-pan was washed 

 from beneath it ; and the portion of the hard-pan, thus under- 

 mined, being unable to sustain the immense pressure, gave way. 

 This occasioned a violent rushing of water to the deeper outlet 

 thus formed ; which, in its turn, sinking under the hard-pan, 

 and washing down a still larger portion of the sand on which it 

 rested, occasioned a still broader and deeper fracture of the 

 hard-pan, and prepared the way for a still more violent gushing 

 of the water, and a still wider and deeper gulf in the sands be- 

 neath, until all traces of the original trench had vanished. This 

 process was repeated a considerable number of times, every frac- 

 ture of the hard-pan being more extensive than the preceding ; 

 imtil, by the undermining force of the water, a deep gulf was 

 worn where the trench had been, several rods in width, and de- 

 scending immediately and rapidly towards Mud Lake. 



Just as the efflux of the water commenced, four or five of the 

 workmen pushed out into the lake upon a raft ; intending to 

 cross its northern end, and on their way to sound an hurrah be- 

 coming the occasion ; but, the alarm having been given, they put 

 to shore, and had barely left the ground on which they landed, 

 when it disappeared. One of the others, having remained too 

 long at work in the trench, was struck by the torrent ; and the 

 ground being washed from beneath him, he would have been 

 carried away, had he not been caught by the hair of his head. 

 Another, waiting too long to witness the violence of the water, 

 was forced pai'tly under the earth ; and it was owing probably to 

 the momentary resistance presented by the roots of a large tree, 

 against which he was driven, that he, and those who came to his 

 assistance, were saved. These accidents induced the workmen 

 to retreat with rapidity from the sides of the widening gulf In 

 the language of one of them, they felt the ground beneath 

 " quiver, quiver, quiver,"" as they ran away with all possible 



