Night found us still in the crater basin, but at a spot that seemed to be comparatively safe. We were now utterly exhausted and glad enough to throw ourselves down to rest. All were hungry and thirsty, but nobody complained.
At the first sign of dawn we continued our journey. We were now mounting a gully running upward and away from the basin proper. We toiled along until a tiny stream was reached. The water was warm and tasted of sulphur, yet we drank eagerly, and also partook of some halfwild plantains we discovered in a hollow.
"I suppose we'll have to take a fresh start when we get out of this scrape," remarked Oliver, when, glancing across the gully, I saw something that caused me to cry out in wonder.
"The two-headed idol!"
"What!" came from my two chums simultaneously.
"There is the two-headed idol, covered with lava and dirt," I went on, and pointed with my hand. "Great Cæsar! look out!"
As I concluded I took to my heels, and so did my companions, for over to where I had pointed the lava had suddenly uplifted, and now from some unknown depth shot a column of fire and melted rocks a foot thick and twenty to thirty feet high. The lava started to flow toward us, but soon found another course down the gully.
