TERCEIRA. 
9 
consuming lava was distinctly seen, as though the 
fiery flood had scarcely ceased to welter through its 
tortuous channels. Over the rocks and lava in the 
immediate foreground a dank grey moss had spread 
itself; a noisome vegetation which detracted not from 
the desolation of the scene — proclaiming, like the 
whitened locks of age, “ here no more shall youth or 
freshness he ! ” 
The chill melancholy of the scene entered the 
heart ; no sound or movement broke upon the painful 
stillness, which spoke of death rather than repose. 
As we toiled onwards scarcely a word was spoken ; 
indeed, from the moment we had first looked down 
upon this unearthly wilderness, all attempts at con- 
versation had given way to a dropping fire of half- 
pronounced ejaculations. Before, behind, to the east, 
and to the west, we were surrounded by these myste- 
rious and awe-inspiring objects, which dispersed every 
ray of joy and merriment from our party. But the 
spell which bound us was broken in a second of 
time; a sudden exclamation of joyous relief burst 
from each as we successively surmounted the crest 
of the hill, and beheld expanded before us the bright 
blue waters of the Atlantic, cheerful with light and 
life, whose sound and movement were alone sufficient 
to dispel our gloomy mood. 
Words are not for strong emotions, and are seldom 
voluntarily resorted to ; the mind appears instinc- 
tively to be sensible of their weakness; they are for 
