e of which was a vast lake of
liquid lava, out of which rose numerous cones sending forth jets of
smoke.
Harry had not imagined the existence of so wild and terrible a scene,
and he was not surprised that the ignorant inhabitants should have
believed it the abode of a goddess delighting in fire and heat.
Kapoiolani told him that at times the lake which they saw below them
rose up high above the cones, filling the whole space within a hundred
feet of the edge with a sea of liquid lava, and that it occasionally
burst its way through the edges, carrying destruction in its course,
towards the ocean, while at other times new cones arose in the side of
the mountain, through which the lava burst its way, flowing down in all
directions.
Having plucked some of the berries, Kapoiolani ate them, and desired her
attendants to do the same.
"Now watch the lake!" she exclaimed, extending her hand towards it.
"Does it rise because we few poor mortals have eaten the fruit which God
allows to grow here? No!" she said, lifting her hand, and pointing
towards heaven. "He who lives there, the great Jehovah, has ordained
that these things should be, for a wise purpose. There is no such
person as Pele, whom, in their ignorance, our fathers have worshipped.
You now understand, my friends, that we have nothing therefore to fear."
While some of her attendants were building the hut, Kapoiolani, with old
Tom and the boys, and a few other persons, descended the side of the
crater, where it sloped sufficiently to enable them to make their way.
The scene around was wild and sombre in the extreme. Mighty cliffs of
jet black rock were on every side, with the lake of shining lava below
them, though relieved by the blue sky overhead, to which Kapoiolani
looked up and pointed.
"There!" she said, "above us is the glorious heaven, which is to be the
future home of believers; below, the dark pit, the dwelling-place of
those who reject the Lord of light and love."
On regaining the edge of the crater, they saw several persons
approaching, among whom, to Kapoiolani's great satisfaction, was the
missionary, accompanied by her husband.
The people who followed her, as soon as they saw them, set up a loud
shout of joy; for many of them till then had fully believed that their
chieftainess would have been destroyed by the vengeance of Pele.
The missionary now offered up a prayer, and having addressed the people,
a hymn was sung.
The party
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