Professor Alexander, of Honolulu, supposes them to be from the
beginning less fluid than pahoehoe, and that they advance very
slowly, being full of solid points, or centres of cooling: that a-
a, in fact, grains like sugar. Its hardness is indescribable. It
is an aggregate of upright, rugged, adamantine points, and at a
distance, a river of it looks like a dark brown Mer de Glace.
At half-past four we reached the edge of an a-a stream, about as
wide as the Ouse at Huntingdon Bridge, and it was obvious that
somehow or other we must cross it: indeed, I know not if it be
possible to reach the crater without passing through one or another
of these obstacles. I should have liked to have left the animals
there, but it was represented as impossible to proceed on foot, and
though this was a decided misrepresentation, Mr. Green plunged in.
I had resolved that he should never have any bother in consequence
of his kindness in taking me with him, and, indeed, everyone had
enough to do in taking care of himself and his own beast, but I
never found it harder to repress a cry for help. Not that I was in
the least danger, but there was every risk of the beautiful mule
being much hurt, or breaking her legs.
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