The Hawaiian Archipelago - Six Months Among The Palm Groves, Coral Reefs, And Volcanoes Of The Sandwich Islands By Isabella L. Bird
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Ever Changing, Never Resting, The Force
Which Stirs It Never Weakening, Raging For Ever With Tossing And
Strength Like The Ocean:
Its labours unfinished and possibly never
to be finished, its very unexpectedness adds to its sublimity and
terror, for until you reach the terminal wall of the crater, it
looks by daylight but a smoking pit in the midst of a dreary stretch
of waste land.
Last night I thought the Southern Cross out of place; to-night it
seems essential, as Calvary over against Sinai. For Halemaumau
involuntarily typifies the wrath which shall consume all evil: and
the constellation, pale against its lurid light, the great love and
yearning of the Father, "who spared not His own Son but delivered
Him up for us all," that, "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive."
AINEPO, HAWAII, June 5th.
We had a great fright last evening. We had been engaging mules, and
talking over our plans with our half-Indian host, when he opened the
door and exclaimed, "There's no light on Mauna Loa; the fire's gone
out." We rushed out, and though the night was clear and frosty, the
mountain curve rose against the sky without the accustomed wavering
glow upon it. "I'm afraid you'll have your trouble for nothing,"
Mr. Gilman unsympathisingly remarked; "anyhow, its awfully cold up
there," and rubbing his hands, reseated himself at the fire. Mr. G.
and I stayed out till we were half-frozen, and I persuaded myself
and him that there was a redder tinge than the moonlight above the
summit, but the mountain has given no sign all day, so that I fear
that I "evolved" the light out of my "inner consciousness."
Mr. Gilman was eloquent on the misfortunes of our predecessors, lent
me a pair of woollen socks to put on over my gloves, told me
privately that if anyone could succeed in getting a guide it would
be Mr. Green, and dispatched us at eight this morning with a lurking
smile at our "fool's errand," thinly veiled by warm wishes for our
success.
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