liding soil
bore them down, so that for every step they took they were carried
the length of two or three steps.

Frank clung to Bob till he had got beyond the reach of the smoke,
and then he fell backward, gasping for breath. The others scrambled
towards him, eager to help him; and Michael Angelo, who had exerted
himself the least of all, and was fresher than any of them, raised
Bob in his arms, and said that he would take care of him now. At
this Frank gave up his precious burden, and resuming their descent,
they were soon at the foot of the cone.

Here they sat down, and Bob was laid upon the sand. With trembling
hands they felt for his heart, and found, to their unspeakable,
joy, that it was still beating. There was no water near; but they
chafed his feet and hands, and did what they could. For a long time
their efforts were unavailing; but at last Bob opened his eyes,
and drawing a long, breath, looked around him with a face full of
astonishment.

"What's--the--matter?" he murmured, in a feeble voice.

At this tears of joy flowed into the eyes of Uncle Moses, and his
lips murmured inaudible words of prayerful gratitude.

"O, nothing," said Frank, who by this time had completely recovered
from his fatigue. "Nothing of any consequence. Don't bother. You'll
be all right soon."

Bob seemed too weak to say much, and even to think. He lay there
in silence, and with an expression of bewilderment on his face,
evidently trying to collect his scattered faculties, so as to
account for his present situation.

And now, the question was how to get Bob home. The men with chairs
and straps had gone away, so that this mode of conveyance seemed
denied them. After waiting a short time, however, they saw a
party approaching who were evidently about to try the ascent.
They consisted of ladies and gentlemen, and were accompanied by
some chair and strap men. Seeing Bob and his friends, they made
inquiries; and on learning what had happened, the ladies refused
to make the ascent on so unfavorable a day, but preferred postponing
it to a more auspicious time. Michael Angelo therefore was able
to obtain one of the chairs for Bob; and setting him upon it,
they carried him towards the Hermitage, where they arrived without
any further mishap.

Here Bob grew rapidly better, and was able to tell his story.

He had felt very anxious to see the crater, and equally anxious to
see it first. Taking advantage of a time when the smoke had r