2T4 Kilauea and Matma Loa. 



lava iu a condition I had never before seen ; its particles seemed to be in a state of 

 mutual repulsion, and although white-hot, fell through the central hole of the "mill- 

 stone" as meal. There seemed absolutel}' no cohesion, no signs of plasticity in the 

 molten lava. There seemed to have come a spirit of disassociation into the pit, and 

 the white hot particles of lava seemed in haste to get as far from each other as 

 possible. The}' scattered like a flock of frightened birds. Another puzzle added to 

 the lengthening list ! 



The descending lava had left pockets of molten rock in the walls ; these emptied 

 themselves on to the sinking crust with spatters and flashes. Masses of lava had also 



FIG. 140. HALEM.^UMAU BEFORE THE BREAK. D. F. THRUAr. 



been left adhering to the loose walls, and one of these, apparently weighing twent}' 

 tons, broke from its place, sliding down a path marked by a trail of white-hot lava so 

 brilliant as to light up the clouds above the crater. Before it had fallen fiftj- feet the 

 huge boulder broke in two, displaying its interior, brilliant as an arc light, and then 

 began the utter disintegration of the mass as it thundered down, the bright particles 

 scattering as did the "meal." All the while the danger signals burned here and there 

 over the black crust. Here and there would come a break, and the old movement of 

 apparently' viscid lava was seen for a moment, but it soon broke up. Less fleeting 

 was a huge interrogation mark drawn in fire on the western side. What, indeed, did 



it all mean ? And the question was unanswered when at last the burning mark had faded. 



[592] 



