Among the Brigands Page 18

  CHAPTER XVII.

  _Vesuvius.--Ponies and Sticks.--Sand and Lava.--The rocky Steps.--Therolling, wrathful Smoke-clouds.--The Volcano warns them off.--Thelost Boy.--A fearful Search.--A desperate Effort.--The sulphurousVapors.--Over the sliding Sands._

  The sight of Vesuvius from a distance had filled David with anardent desire to visit it, and all the rest shared this feeling.Vesuvius was before them always. The great cloud of dense, blacksmoke, which hung over it like a pall, was greater, and denser,and blacker than usual. The crater was disturbed. There were rumblingnoises in its wondrous interior; and all around and all beneaththe volcano gave signs of an approaching eruption. Sometimes thesmoke, as it ascended from the crater, would tower up in the airfor thousands of feet, far into the sky, a black pillar, which atthe summit spread out on all sides, giving to the spectator thevision of a colossal palm tree--the shape and the sign which isthe inevitable forerunner of an approaching eruption. At othertimes the sulphur-laden clouds would hang low over the crest ofthe mountain, and roll far down its sides, and envelop it in itsdense, black, voluminous folds.

  As yet, in spite of these appearances, the ascent might be made insafety, though every day lessened the chances of an ascent byincreasing the danger. This they learned from Michael Angelo, theirguide, whom they had engaged to make the ascent; so they determinedto go without any farther delay. Accordingly, two days after theirexcursion to Baiae, they set out, going first to Portici, wherethey hired ponies to take them to the foot of the cone; each onesupplied himself with a good stout stick to assist his ascent, andMichael Angelo went with them as general manager of the expedition.

  On riding, up they found the road good at first, but soon itbecame somewhat rough. It left the fertile meadows and vineyardsat the base of the mountain, and ran over a wild, rocky country,which looked, as Uncle Moses said, like the "abomination ofdesolation." No verdure appeared, no houses, no flocks, andherds--all was wild, and savage, and dismal. After passing overthese lava fields, the party reached what is called the "Hermitage"--a kind of refreshment station near the foot of the cone. Restinghere, for a little way they proceeded on foot. The path was nowrugged and difficult, and ascended at so steep an angle that itbecame rather climbing than walking. After a toilsome walk thispath ended at the foot of the cone.

  Here the mountain arose grandly before them, with its smoke-cloudoverhanging its steep sides, ascending from where they stood towhere the view was lost in smoke. At one part there was a surfaceof loose sand, and at another wild, disordered heaps of crumbledlava blocks. Over these last Michael Angelo led them, for theseblocks formed stepping-stones by which to make the ascent. A numberof men were here with chairs and straps, who offered them assistance;but they all declined, even Uncle Moses choosing to rely on hisunassisted muscle.

  Then they began the ascent of the cone. The lava blocks were ofall sizes, and lay strewn loosely down the steep side. It was likeascending a long, rough stairway, where all the steps are irregular.It was laborious and tedious. Often they had to stop and rest.Uncle Moses felt it most, and the boys had frequently to stop ratheron his account. But when they had traversed about two thirds ofthe way, they began to grow more excited, and in Bob this excitementwas most evident. Thinking that the others would take sufficientcare of Uncle Moses, he started off alone, and soon was far up,clambering over the rocks like a young chamois.

  Usually there is one side of the crater which is accessible. Thereis almost always some wind which blows the smoke away, and on thewindward side the visitor can stand and breathe freely. On thepresent occasion, however, there was little or no wind; and thesmoke, which was far denser than usual, gathered in thick, blackfolds, and sometimes rolled down the sides of the cone, and hidthe crest from view. Michael Angelo expressed a fear that theywould not be able to reach the crest; and as they drew nearer,every step showed that this fear was well founded. At last, whenthey were within easy distance of it, there came rolling down acloud of smoke, so dense and so full of sulphurous vapor that theyall had to stop and cover their faces with their clothes.

  It was now evident that they could go no farther. They waited fora time in great distress from the smoke. It rolled away at last,yet still hovered near them, every little while moving threateninglydown, as though to drive them back, and prevent the crater fromdesecration by human footsteps. They had evidently reached theirfarthest limit, and could go no farther.

  But where was Bob?

  Scarcely had they discovered the impossibility of going fartherthan this thought came to them. Where was Bob? He had left themsome time previously, and had gone far ahead of them. They hadexpected every moment to come up with him. But there were no signsof him anywhere.

  Frank called out with all his strength. David and Clive joined inthe cry.

  There was no response.

  Fear came to them--a sickening, awful fear. All shouted--the boys,Uncle Moses, and Michael Angelo.

  Still there was no response.

  Again, and again, and yet again, they called, by this time in anagony of apprehension; but to all these cries the surroundingstillness gave forth not one answering sound.

  And the deep, dark, wrathful smoke-clouds rolled around, and above,and downward, moving close to them, and over them, as though eagerto involve them in that dread fate which they feared had overwhelmedthe lost boy.

  "I can't stand this any longer!" cried Frank, at last. "I'll goand hunt him up."

  "We'll all go," said David.

  "Wait," said Uncle Moses, as the boys were starting. "We must hunthim up as we do in the woods. We can't tell where he is. Let's forma line, an walk as nigh abreast of one another as we can get, anyet far enough away to cover the ground. In that way well be morelikely to find him."

  At this the party formed themselves in a line, so that about twentyor thirty feet intervened between each. The five thus extended fora long distance. Michael Angelo was at the extreme right, next tohim was Uncle Moses, then Clive, then David, while Frank was onthe extreme left. In this way they determined to go as far forwardas the smoke would permit. The prospect was gloomy enough; but thesituation of Bob nerved them all to the effort. Besides, they wereencouraged by the fact that the smoke would sometimes retreat farup, exposing the surface to the very crest of the crater. So theyadvanced, clambering over the rough blocks, and drew nearer andnearer to the summit. At length a heavy mass of black smoke camerolling down. It touched them. It enveloped them. It folded itselfover them and under them. Each one fell flat on his face at MichaelAngelo's warning, and covered his mouth and nostrils with hishandkerchief, so as to keep out the sulphurous vapors. It was almostsuffocating; breathing was difficult and painful, and it seemed along time before the blackness of the darkness was mitigated. Butat last the smoke withdrew itself, and the whole party stood up,and looked around painfully for one another, panting heavily, anddrawing laborious breaths.

  "You can't go any further," said Uncle Moses. "I ain't goin tolet you resk your lives, boys. You must all go back, an I'll gofor'ard."

  "No, uncle; I'll go," cried Frank.

  "And I," cried David.

  "And I," cried Clive.

  "None of you shall go," said Uncle Moses, firmly. "I tell you I'mgoin. I order you to stay here, or go back." Uncle Moses was deeplyagitated, and spoke with unaccustomed sternness. "Go back," hesaid; "I'll find Bob, or leave myself there. Go back. D'ye hear?"

  He darted forward, and turned to wave his hand at the boys. ButFrank had already sprung upward, swiftly and eagerly. Onward hewent, going first to the left and then to the right. David andClive also rushed forward. Uncle Moses toiled after them, callingon them to come back. Michael Angelo followed slowly, looking onwith a face of fearful apprehension.

  Frank was far ahead. He had come to a place where the lava blocksended, and the soil was sandy. Here he paused for an instant, andtook a swift glance around. He started. He had seen something. Hemade a quick gesture and then sprang away to the right.

  All this had not taken many min
utes. It was an act of desperationon the part of Frank, but he was determined to save Bob or perish.Fortunately the smoke did not descend just at that moment, but wasfloating up from the summit, so that the edge of the crater couldbe seen, with a dull yellow gleam, caused by the sulphur that laymingled with the sand.

  Frank had seen a prostrate figure. It lay on the sand beyond theedge of the lava blocks. His first feeling was one of surprise thatBob had succeeded in penetrating so far; his next was one of horrorfor fear that he might be beyond the reach of help. With frantichaste he rushed towards him, and reaching the spot, he raised Bobin his arms.

  He was senseless!

  And now, as Frank stood there, close to the perilous edge, thetreacherous smoke, which had thus far held back, rolled down oncemore. To face it was impossible. Frank flung himself down, andburied his face as before, looking up from time to time to see ifthe smoke was lessening. The time seemed protracted to a fearfullength. The dense fumes which penetrated through the thick foldsof the clothes which he held over his mouth nearly suffocated him.He began to think that he, too, was doomed.

  And where were the others?

  Scattered, apart from one another--and thus they had been caughtby the rolling smoke. They could do only one thing, and that waswhat they had done before. Uncle Moses alone refused to yield. Hetried to toil on so as to get nearer to his boys. He had a vagueidea of getting near to Frank, so as to die by his side. But physicalpain was stronger than the determination of his soul, and at lengthhe involuntarily flung himself down, and covered his face.

  But at last even that ordeal was passed. The smoke lifted. It rolledaway. There was air again for them to breathe. Frank roused himselfbefore the smoke had all passed, and lifting Bob in his arms,carried him swiftly downward. He reached the place where UncleMoses was standing, gasping for breath; and the other boys who hadseen him hurried towards him, and tried to help him carry hissenseless burden. Uncle Moses also tried to take Bob in his ownarms, and prayed Frank, with tears in his eyes, to let him carryhim; but Frank refused them all, and insisted on doing it himself.A few paces more, however, over the lava blocks, showed that Frank'sstrength would not be sufficient for such a journey. He sank downexhausted by his excessive exertions, and waited a few moments totake breath.

  While he was thus recovering his breath, Michael Angelo reachedthe spot, and explained that there was another place of descentnot far off, and led the way towards it. Here they found the sideof the cone all covered with loose sand. Down this they went. Atevery step they sank in up to their ankles, and the sliding soilbore them down, so that for every step they took they were carriedthe 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 scrambledtowards him, eager to help him; and Michael Angelo, who had exertedhimself the least of all, and was fresher than any of them, raisedBob in his arms, and said that he would take care of him now. Atthis 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 tremblinghands they felt for his heart, and found, to their unspeakable,joy, that it was still beating. There was no water near; but theychafed his feet and hands, and did what they could. For a long timetheir efforts were unavailing; but at last Bob opened his eyes,and drawing a long, breath, looked around him with a face full ofastonishment.

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

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

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

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

  And now, the question was how to get Bob home. The men with chairsand straps had gone away, so that this mode of conveyance seemeddenied them. After waiting a short time, however, they saw aparty approaching who were evidently about to try the ascent.They consisted of ladies and gentlemen, and were accompanied bysome chair and strap men. Seeing Bob and his friends, they madeinquiries; and on learning what had happened, the ladies refusedto make the ascent on so unfavorable a day, but preferred postponingit to a more auspicious time. Michael Angelo therefore was ableto obtain one of the chairs for Bob; and setting him upon it,they carried him towards the Hermitage, where they arrived withoutany 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 tosee it first. Taking advantage of a time when the smoke had retreated,he had made a rush, and had just attained the very edge of thecrater, when suddenly he found himself overwhelmed by a tremendouscloud of smoke. To resist it, or to endure it in any way, wasimpossible. He thought only of flight He turned mechanically, andran, with this idea of flight alone in his mind. That was all heremembered. He must have run for at least a hundred feet, for thatwas about the distance which lay between the summit and the placewhere he was found.

  Michael Angelo started off and got a carriage, by means of whichBob was taken to Naples. He did not seem to have suffered any veryserious injury; but for some days he was quite languid and miserable,and complained of a taste of sulphur in his mouth; his coat, too,which on going up was of a dark-blue color, had become quite faded,from the action of the powerful sulphurous fumes.

  On the whole, Bob, as well as the rest of the party, had amplereason to feel thankful.