seven in the morning
Above the new crater a cloud of smoke and ashes , mingled with those of the atmosphere , massed over the island . Loud peals of thunder broke , and could scarcely be distinguished from the rumblings of the mountain , whose mouth vomited forth ignited rocks , which , hurled to more than a thousand feet , burst in the air like shells . Flashes of lightning rivalled in intensity the volcano 's eruption . Towards seven in the morning the position was no longer tenable by the colonists , who accordingly took shelter in the borders of Jacamar Wood . Not only did the projectiles begin to rain around them , but the lava , overflowing the bed of Red Creek , threatened to cut off the road to the corral . The nearest rows of trees caught fire , and their sap , suddenly transformed into vapour , caused them to explode with loud reports , whilst others , less moist , remained unhurt in the midst of the inundation . The colonists had again taken the road to the corral .