I4 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



CHAPTER XII. 



A CAMP IN A CRATER. 



THE LAST OF THE VOLCANOES. THE SOUFRIERE OF ST. VINCENT. 

 THE " INVISIBLE BIRD." ASCENDING THE VOLCANO. THE 

 " DRY RIVER." BIRDS-EVE VIEW OF ST. VINCENT. THE OLD 

 CRATER. THE NEW CRATER. THE LAKE IN THE BOWELS OF 

 THE EARTH. IN THE CAVE. SUNSET. PREPARING FOR 

 THE NIGHT. TOBY. FIVE DAYS AND NIGHTS OF MISERY. 

 FAUNA OP A MOUNTAIN-TOP. EXPLORING THE CRATER- 

 BRIM. YUCCAS AND WILD PINES. TOBY IN THE CAVE'S 

 MOUTH. A TERROR-STRICKEN AFRICAN. JACOB'S WELL. 

 SNAKES AND PITFALLS. TOBY'S "STOCK." THE SOUFRIERE- 

 BIRD. A MYSTERIOUS SONGSTER. UNAVAILING ATTEMPTS 

 TO PROCURE IT. SOUGHT FOR A CENTURY. A DREAM. 

 NASAL BLASTS. SEARCHING FOR THE BIRD. THE CARIB 

 BIRD-CALL. THE CAPTURE. A NEW BIRD. A PLUNGE INTO 

 DARKNESS. SCARED BY A SNAKE. TOBY DESPERATE. DE- 

 PARTURE FOR CARIB COUNTRY. 



ST. VINCENT contains the last of the West Indian 

 volcanoes from which the present century has 

 witnessed destructive eruptions ; the SoufrieTe, that 

 towered above and overlooked the Richmond planta- 

 tion, having, in 1812, burst upon the island with ter- 

 rible force. This eruption, which seemed to relieve 

 a pressure upon the earth's crust, extending from 

 Caracas to the Mississippi Valley, was most disastrous 

 in its effects, having covered the whole island with 

 ashes, cinders, pumice, and scoria;, destroyed many 



