Still the afternoon hung on, and I went back to the house feeling
that the most desirable event which the future could produce would
be--a meal. Now and then the men came in and talked for a while,
and as the darkness and cold intensified, they brought in an
arrangement extemporised out of what looked like a battered tin
bath, half full of earth, with some lighted faggots at the top,
which gave out a little warmth and much stinging smoke. Actual,
undoubted, night came on without Mr. Green, of whose failure I felt
certain, and without food, and being blinded by the smoke, I rolled
myself in a blanket and fell asleep on the bench, only to wake in a
great fright, believing that the volcano house was burning over my
head, and that a venerable missionary was taking advantage of the
confusion to rob my saddle-bags, which in truth one of the men was
moving out of harm's way, having piled up the fire two feet high.
Presently a number of voices outside shouted Haole! and Mr. Green
came in shaking the water from his waterproof, with the welcome
words, "Everything's settled for to-morrow." Mr. Reid threw cold
water on the ascent, and could give no help; and Mr. G. being thus
left to himself, after a great deal of trouble, has engaged as guide
an active young goat-hunter, who, though he has never been to the
top of the mountain, knows other parts of it so well that he is sure
he can take us up.
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