sprang off down the hill, believing her to be following at the same instant. The woman angrily stamped her foot, and the hill was rent by a chasm from forth which flowed a fiery stream of lava. When Vari reached the bottom of the hill and looked back he saw the burning torrent pouring down towards him, and on its foremost crest was the awful form of Pele the goddess of volcanoes, with thunder roaring round her, and lightning playing through her hair. Vari fled towards the ocean and avoided the fate of the multitude whose terror prevented them from escaping. On his spear the chief crossed a chasm which was already being filled up by the molten lava, and reached the sea beach, where rushing into a canoe he swiftly paddled into the safety of the open water, the stones which were hurled after him by Pele not being able to reach him. Vari fled across to another island and there bewailed his lost people and his beautiful perished home at Puna.
east′-ern
lux-u′-ri-ant
dan′-ger-ous
beau′-ti-ful
ap-plause′
ex-plo′-sion
chasm
ath-let′-ic
fes′-ti-val
ver′-dure
light′-ning
com-pet′-i-tor
vol-ca′-no, a mountain having internal fire and emitting smoke and lava.
la′-va, a general term for the red-hot melted stone poured out by volcanoes.
ba-na′-na, the name of a tropical tree and its fruit. From the fibres of its stem Manilla hemp is made.
ath-let′-ic, strong of body and agile.
