hernmost of the great volcanoes of the
Cascade Range, there lies another field of recent volcanic activity
of even greater interest than the first. The centre of attraction is
Cinder Cone, similar to Shadow Mountain in its manner of formation
as well as in materials, but more symmetrical in form. Upon one side
is a field of black lava several miles in extent, while volcanic
sand has been spread over all the adjacent country.

[Illustration: FIG. 27.--THE CRATER OF CINDER CONE]

As nearly as can be determined, only a little more than two hundred
years ago the valley now occupied by Cinder Cone and the lava fields
gave no indication of ever becoming a new centre of volcanic action.
It has been thousands of years since the ancient volcanic peaks
and cinder cones of this mountainous region became extinct. The
glaciers had come, and torn and ground away the surface of the
lava, and afterward dense forests had hidden all the rocky slopes,
while lakes had occupied many of the valleys. Far below, however,
the fires had not gone out. In many places there were boiling springs
from which the steam, upon cold mornings, rose in dense white clouds.

Then, for some reason which we do not understand, the forces beneath
the surface increased their activity. The force of the steam and
other gases was too great to be restrained, and at a weak spot in
the overlying rocks they broke through. Molten lava accompanied
them, and a new volcano came into life in the valley where Cinder
Cone now raises its dark, symmetrical slopes.

The eruptions were violent. With explosive force the molten lava
was torn into fragments, and sand, lapilli, and bombs were hurled out
into the air. The finer particles were carried by the air currents
far over the surrounding country. The lapilli, scoriae, and bombs
fell around the throat of the volcano, finally building up the
cone to its present proportions. The great bombs, some of them five
feet in diameter, are among the most remarkable products of this
eruption. They lie scattered about upon the surface of the ground
at the foot of the cone, and, although they are often irregular
in shape, they might almost be mistaken for huge cannon-balls.
The eruption killed and burned the trees in the near-by forests,
burying them under six or seven feet of fine sand or ashes. After
the cone had been built and the explosive eruptions had nearly
stopped, a stream of molten lava burst from the base of the cone
and filled