a mass of
dark water and mud rising up in the shape of a column! Higher and
higher it rose, surrounded by volumes of vapour; while from its summit
was scattered far and wide thick lumps of mud. Becoming aware that I
had been sleeping close to an active mud geyser, I sprang away from the
dangerous neighbourhood, narrowly escaping being overwhelmed with the
hot and horrible mixture. The spout, or column, I should think, must
have risen to a height of nearly fifty feet; while every few seconds
loud reports were heard, and with each report a dense volume of steam
shot forth--the ground meanwhile shaking violently.

I stood watching it till, gradually decreasing, the centre part of the
column sank down into the orifice from which it had been expelled; and
within a short time all was again quiet. The mass of mud which covered
the ground, and coated even the boughs of the neighbouring trees, alone
showed the violent outbreak that had just taken place.

As I advanced the valley began to narrow. Miasmatic vapours, escaping
from holes and crevices on either side, filled the air, making it
difficult to breathe with freedom, so I hastened on, anxious to get out
of so horrible a region. To escape from it I climbed a hill, along the
side of which I made my way as fast as the uneven nature of the ground
and fallen logs and rocks would allow.

I again got into a more open country, where I became conscious of a
considerable change in the atmosphere. Hitherto the air had been
tolerably warm, though bracing; it now grew sensibly cooler. Thick
clouds were gathering in the sky. The wind, before a gentle breeze, now
rose rapidly, and blew with violence. It soon became icy cold, and
flakes of snow began to fall. Without a fire, I felt I should well-nigh
perish. At all events, before I could make a fire I must search for
some cavern in which to light it; or, failing to find a cavern, I must
build a hut. As the appearance of the ground did not indicate that
caverns were likely to exist on the side of the hill, I set to work
without delay to collect materials for building a hut; and having cut
down a number of pine branches, I stuck them in the ground, weaving
their tops together with vines, and piling as many rough pieces of bark
against the side as I could find.

In vain I watched for a gleam of sunshine, which would enable me, by
means of my burning-glass, to kindle a fire. The clouds gathered
thicker and thicker; and no ho