The crust became increasingly insecure, and neces-
sitated our walking in single file with the guide in
front, to test the security of the footing. I fell through
several times, and always into holes full of sulphurous
steam so malignantly acid that my strong dogskin
gloves were burned through as I raised myself on
my hands.
" We had followed the lava-flow for thirty miles up to



264 The Story of the Hills.
the crater's brink, and now we had toiled over recent
lava for three hours, and by all calculation were close
to the pit ; yet there was Jio smoke or sign of fire,
and I felt sure that the volcano had died out for once
for our special disappointment. . ..
