“How far is it?” asked Enola. “I am tired, but if there be a chance of seeing this beautiful sight, then we had better accept it, for a delay may mean to lose this pleasure, for the possibilities of that volcano are beyond reckoning.”
“It is about three miles due north of here, as you would say,” said Onrai, “and if you wish to go we will find elephants plenty to carry all of us.”
“But we will have no moonlight to enhance the beauty of the brilliants,” said Enola.
“No,” said Onrai, “but we have the light from the volcano, and this may have a grander effect.”
“That is true,” said Enola, “let us go immediately.”
Onrai gave the order, and several elephants were soon standing in front of the terrace, awaiting the pleasure of the party. The other ladies also decided to go, not having been out of the villa since their arrival, and the men jumped at the chance, surprised to think that there might be a field of these diamonds still uncovered by the ashes.
The elephants followed a road, or path rather, which led almost due north for a distance of three or four miles. The easy motion of the elephants had most of the tired party asleep before the point was reached, and they were awakened from their sleep when the elephants stopped. They were entirely unprepared for the beautiful sight which met their gaze. As far as they could see to the north, the ground was strewn with brilliant sparks of light, looking up from its black surface, like bright eyes from a dusky face. The red glare of the volcano made the scene all the more beautiful, in bringing out so many varied lights from the diamonds.
“How far are we from the volcano?” asked Mr. Graham.
“Only about a mile farther from it than we are when at the villa, I should judge,” said Mr. Bruce.
“And is the land here as barren as it is at the villa,” asked Mrs. Graham, of Onrai, as he came up.