EE 
20 THE VOLCANO OF KILAUEA, 
since six o’clock in the morning, and hoping to wake up in 
the night when the fires would be more brilliant, we rolled 
ourselves up in our blankets, and, with our guides near 
by, went to sleep a few rods from the crater. At nine 
o’clock I waked, and as the night air was quite cold, moved 
to the very edge of the crater to warm myself, and enjoy 
the magnificent fireworks. The moon was up and almost 
full, but her light was dull beside the fires of Pélé. Find- 
ing the place quite comfortable, I picked out a soft rock 
Se a pillow, and went to sleep again. At twelve I awaked 
with a start. and found myself in a shower of fiery drops, 
some of which were burning my blanket. I shook myself. 
and jumped back, looking at my watch to note the time, 
and then stood gazing at the strange scene some time be- 
fore I thought of my companions, The whole surface of. 
the Jake had risen several feet, and was violently boiling 
and dashing - against the banks, throwing the white-hot 
spray some sixty feet over the upper Hanke, causing the 
providential rain that awakened me to see this grand dis- 
play. There was no thundering or bellowing, only.the 
splash of the waves as they fell heok, or the rattling of the 
cooled drops on.the upper banks. The light was so in- 
tense as to be almost painful, as the crust had wholly 
melted, and brilliant fountains of fire covered the surface. 
When I could think of anything else, I called the othe 
ers, but only succeeded in awakening the guides, and just 
then. drop of lava came plump into a greasy new ee 
the ‘dismay of our guides, who, thinking that the volcano 
had broken out at our feet, at once fled to a safe distance. 
ht our supper in, and it blazed up suddenly, to 
‘ 
Failing to arouse them with my voice, I threw several — 
handfuls of gravel at the sleepers but-without effect, and I 
had to climb down, almost; bitada; a 
