250 



Till'. XATIOXAI. OKOGRAIMIIC MAGAZ1XK 



- -. 'r 





Photograph by R. F. Griggs 



the; "defenses" OF baked MOUNTAIN CAMP 



Profiting by several sorry experiences, Yori finally shored up the tents so thoroughly 

 as to bid defiance to the winds, but it was no use. The condition of the camp when the 

 next storm cleared away is shown on the opposite page (see text, page 270). 



grees centigrade (496 C, 915 F.). This 

 was found in a f timarole where the steam 

 broke through a myriad of small holes 

 in the roof of a bridged-over fissure. 



The volume of gas coming from any 

 one of these was so small that it could be 

 approached as closely as might be de- 

 sired. One could readily reach into the 

 hole with the end of a foot rule held in 

 his hand. Within five seconds the stick 

 would begin to smoke violently, and when 

 drawn out its end would be a glowing 

 coal. In less time than that a bar of lead 

 tied to the stick slumped down and 

 melted away (see color plate, page 275). 



KINDLING A Fire by plunging a stick 



INTO WATER 



Even this performance was eclipsed 

 next day when the chemists came in, re- 

 porting several temperatures far above 

 500 C. ; the highest was 645 (nearly 

 1200 F.).. This was measured in a 

 small orifice, not over two inches in di- 

 ameter, located at the bottom of a crater- 

 like pit eight or ten feet across. It was 

 so inconspicuous as never to have excited 

 the curiosity of observers, although it 



was but little removed from the trail 

 which we used constantly as we traveled 

 up and down the valley. The gas, which 

 appeared to be almost pure steam, was, 

 however, so blue as to arouse Dr. Zies' 

 suspicion and so resulted in the discovery 

 of its temperature. 



If it had not been located at the bottom 

 of a pit, this fumarole also might have 

 been reached with a foot rule, but on ac- 

 count of its situation it was not quite so 

 accessible. 



When we put an aluminum cup into 

 this steam it was quickly softened, so that 

 it could be cut with a knife like pewter; 

 vet it showed no signs of fusion, for the 

 temperature was still somewhat below 

 the melting point of aluminum. The 

 tinned handle was vigorously attacked by 

 the gas, but the body of the cup itself was 

 neither corroded nor tarnished in the 

 least degree. 



Then we cut the end of a walking- 

 stick into a brush of shavings and thrust 

 it into the steam. Instantly it began to 

 smoke and char, but nothing further hap- 

 pened until we jerked it quickly into the 

 air, when it burst into flame. We had, 



