The Mystery of Smoking Mountain

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22337, 26 February 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

The Mystery of Smoking Mountain

THE PUPU SPRINGS

What Has Happened

the rocks he could see down into i the crater. Still cautioning quietness, he motioned the others to come close, and together the three boys gazed down into the basin; they had almost expected to see the rock inside the crater heaving and cracking, and molten rock welling up, but instead it was perfectly still round the edge, while the centre was heaving regularly, just as when they had first seen it. "Listen!" Dan's .whispered word called the boys' thoughts back to the awesome rumbling, which had first suggested to them an explosion. Again it sounded But strangely enough, from there it sounded different, not louder, as might have been expected, but rather as though heavy cases were being tumbled about in a cave where the space and echo magnified the sound. , "Come over here," Col beckoned and moved round to the right a little. , , "Why, it's much clearer here, and more like cases being tumbled about," Will said, astonished. As the rumbling stopped, a very different sound made the boys stare at each other in amazement.

Col, Will, and Dan, the. Kowhai Kids, are spending a holiday in the North Island. They meet Whem M> an old Maori, and his little grandson. Wiremu tells them the story of "Smoking Mountain." Suddenly they hear the thunder of an eruption. Next day, they persuade their uncle to allow them to explore the volcano.

CHAPTER IV Instead of the liquid and uneasy looking surface, which they had expected to see in the crater, was an untroubled sea of rock, the only movement being a slow bubbling near the centre. This showed effectually that there had been no eruption for a very long time. "But we saw it!" Will answered the unspoken thought in the mind of each. „ ,„, , "What can it mean? What was jt we saw, then?" Dan asked. "Let's go down and see!' Col was all eagerness to explore, but Dan stopped him with, "We promised Uncle not to take any risks, you know." . , ~ , „ "Well, I suppose we'd better not, agreed Col, reluctantly. "Never mind, we may be able to do that later, when Uncle feels safer about it. Meanwhile, what say we go right round the top, before we start for home again?" Dan's suggestion was immedi : ately adopted, nd the Kowhai Kids decided to go to their left. It was harder work than they had anticipated, however, for the way was rough and rocky, and most of the time they went scrambling over shiny rocks. They must have been about half way round when they called a halt, flinging themselves down exhausted on a sandy patch in the shadow of a circle of rocks. These encircling rocks made a great little biding place, and an ideal spot for lunch being sheltered from the wind and from the sun. After lunch, as they lay sunning themselves, a sound came to them. Startled, they all sat up, listening intently. Again came a hollow rumbling sound. Puzzled and r"ather' frightened, they looked at each other. "What is it?" asked Will. "I think we'd better get out of here as soon as possible, Lol muttered, a bit worried. ' "Do you mean—Do you think there will be an eruption?' Will expressed the fear of each one. But Dan's signal for silence prevented any more talk. He was on his feet now. and over beside the sheer edge of the crater. Suddenly he lay down, and stretched out, so that by peering through between

From inside the mountain they could hear a man's voice shouting orders. The voice reached them only as an indistinct murmur, but it was undoubtedly a man's voice. "There's something fishy about this, but we'd better get away from here just now,". Dan whispered urgently, and quickly led the way over the rocks. Col followed quickly, and he and Dan were already several yards down the hillside when a sudden gasp from Will halted them. . "What's up? Col questioned, as he turned round. "Well, of all the luck! Why did he want to slip just now?" For Will was lying motionless beside the huge rock from which he had evidently slipped. "I hope to goodness he hasnt sprained his ankle," Dan muttered as he stooped over the silent form of his chum. ~ „ "No, thank goodness, he hasn t, Col swiftly investigated. . "Did we leave any milk in the thermos," Dan inquired. "Bring it over here, will you?" Col uncorked the flask and Dan bathed the jagged cut on Will's head where he had landed on a cruel point of

stone. It took them nearly 10 minutes to bring their pal round, and then he was very faint ana "Oh, my goodness! Look:'* Col's cry of horror was a hoarse snout Dan and Will followed his pointing finger. From the crater were rising dence yellow fumes "Quickly! Come on! and mm Dan and Col supporting Wffl« each side they started stumbliag and scrambling down the rocay Already the acrid fumes were making the boys cough andspHK ter, and Will's gasping AU«£ Jg you think it's poisonous? to them all. although Dan amwered as scornfully as possible beJW*« coughs, "Of course not. At im when they were nearly hall JW down the hill and felt they'd have to give up, Col suddenly shouted th^?t Uy vou feel it? The windj changing!" Even as he *PS*?JJ refreshing puff of pure air re&om them, and as they sat down a* « bv common consent, the dreaaea cloud of fumes retreated up tV» hill before the attack of theiiW As the fumes .cleared away, Kg they lay watching the coimtryfflW below, they discussed the sudden gases, and also the awesome.rumbling and the mysterious voices w the mountain. They.had found** reasonable explanation, however. when Will interrupted with an exclamation. «th-r«. Then he turned to the others. and pointing downwards to w» foot of the hill, he said "I w<»Jg what the idea was? What on earui is the use of it?" Below £?*£ road ran round the foot of the hjj but at the point straight; down from them, another road brand** off as if to come right.up tbegg But this was not the granges* thing, for the road stopped "where an immense lump 01 v« canic rock blocked the way. « fact the road looked as though" had been made right up to the roc* PU Wh7le y they were watching tg view seemed to get hazv, and e™ a lad gazed round inquiringly. ■■Let's hurry. It looks as if «« are doomed to run away »»g things to-day. You know « told us not to get caught by, t°? j "I hope we won't get lost. «-«* PrayG ' (To be continued.)

I went for a holiday away up Takaka Hill on a camping tnp. We visited the Pupu Spring They are one of the largest fres" water springs in the world, urj boiled the water it would go WMOn Takaka Hill there were Mg caves. My cousins and 1

through two of he *>iMest gj^ We had to have torches becauw was dark inside .Inside the cav there were *°™a tw "l°'fttßn|»' Md Pre, ' y - -VALMA. P.XJO&.

When is rice like earth? When it is ground. w «ll£Z What has a foot but cannot »■ A hiIL -SHIRLEY BROWN.