ALARM OF AN ERUPTION, 
261 
(exhausted from fatigue, thirst, and hunger; 
and had immediate reason to congratulate our¬ 
selves on a most narrow escape from extreme 
danger, if not from death : for, on turning 
round, we perceived the whole chasm to be filled 
with thick sulphureous smoke; and within half 
an hour, it was so completely choked with it, that 
not an object below us was visible. Even where 
we were, in the unconfined region above, the air 
became so oppressive, as to make us think seriously 
of a precipitate retreat. 
“The splendid illuminations of the preceding 
evening were again lighted up with the closing of 
the day ; and after enjoying their beauties for two 
or three hours with renewed delighc, we early 
sought a repose, which the fatigue of the morning 
had rendered most desirable. The chattering of 
the islanders around our cabins, and the occa¬ 
sional sound of voices in protracted conversation 
among our own number, had, however, scarcely 
ceased long enough to admit of sound sleep, when 
the volcano again began roaring and labouring 
with redoubled activity. The confusion of noises 
was prodigiously great. These sounds were not 
fixed or confined to one place, but rolled from one 
end of the crater to the other; sometimes seeming 
to be immediately under us, when a sensible 
tremor of the ground on which we lay took place; 
and then again rushing to the farthest end with 
incalculable velocity. The whole air was filled 
with the tumult; and those most soundly asleep 
were quickly roused by it to thorough wakeful¬ 
ness. Lord Byron sprang up in his cot, exclaim¬ 
ing, c We shall certainly have an eruption ; such 
power must burst through every thing !’ He had 
barely ceased speaking, when a dense column of 
