Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/243

Rh "Oh, yes; I can smell it," I laughed. "It's the infernal regions, and no mistake. Just look below us and you will see that everything—rocks, lava, and plants—is covered with gray ashes."

"It's enough to give a fellow the creeps," came from Dan. "If a fellow fell into one of those pits it would be the last of him. Do I imagine it, or is the rock under us hot?"

"Dat rock hot," smiled Susu. "But dis nodding. You go down, over dare, him werry hot; 'most burn shoes."

"No, excuse me, I'm not going down there," answered Dan. "There may be tourists foolish enough to walk in such places, but I'm not one of them."

"Two Americans go down dare las' year. One go too close to fire an' break t'rough lava. Him friend try to pull out. Try hard—crack! All gone!" and the guide threw up his arms.

"They never got out?" I questioned.

"No, neffer get out. Nobody can help him—try tree limb—rope—everyt'ing—no good. Men sink down—down—scream much burn, but dat all. Da soon burn up."

"It's horrible!" muttered Oliver. "Come, let us go on," and he led the way, with Lincoln Susu beside him. We wanted to keep out of danger—yet we were moving into it just as fast as we could!