AMP WITHOUT SUPPER OR FIRE.

In spite of the fearful noises produced by the savage inhabitants of
that region, and certain slow, ominous rumbling sounds which came up
from the direction of the waterspout, when we did go to sleep we slept
soundly enough. At length the sergeant, who had taken the last watch,
roused up Manley and me, and we started to our feet--my first impulse
being to look out for the jet of water which I supposed I had seen on
the previous evening, but which was now nowhere visible.

"If we have got into an enchanted land, as the Indians suppose it is,
the fairies or spirits have not thought fit, during the night, to
trouble us," said Manley, laughing. "Our business now is to try and
make our way across this valley--so, forward!"

After breakfast, we strapped on our packs and recommenced our march, our
object being to reach the shore of the lake as soon as possible. If
there were any native inhabitants in this region, they would probably be
found there; and we would either get them to put us across the lake in
their canoes, or else we would skirt along it until we could again take
a westerly course.

We soon found that we had got into a region subject to violent volcanic
action, and were compelled to turn aside to avoid a wide space full of
ponds, the intervals between which were covered with a crust of
brimstone. I attempted to reach one of the ponds, but had not gone far
when the point of my pole went through the crust, and up bubbled a
quantity of black slime. On touching it, and finding it scalding hot, I
shouted to my companions, who were behind, not to venture on the
treacherous ground. A horror seized me, and every instant I feared that
I should break through the surface. Should that take place, what a
dreadful fate would be mine! I hastened back, stepping cautiously, as
if moving over ice too thin to bear my weight; and very thankful I was
when I once more got on hard ground.

Still further on, as we proceeded down the valley, we saw vapour rising
from numerous fissures in the hill-sides. Around these vents quantities
of sulphur had been deposited. But the most curious objects were basins
of all sizes, nearly circular, of which there were great numbers--
formed, apparently, by the lime contained in the hot springs. Some of
these springs were exhausted; others, as they gushed forth from the
mountain-side, were hot enough to boil potatoes. Beautiful as was the
appearance of the ba