Lines from 1-6 find one phrase that shows that the maid had a clear view of what happened?

I am just suggesting that it could be line 4.

Explanation:

I say this because it mentions how the "details were few and startling", meaning there is a specific description for said details. The details have been described in that phrase, thereby implying that that is what the maid saw (few and startling details)

b toward the volcano.landward. the landward side of something is the side nearest to the land or facing the land, rather than the sea.

on april 6, 1917, the u.s. joined its allies--britain, france, and russia--to fight in world war i. under the command of major general john j. pershing, more than 2 million u.s. soldiers fought on battlefields in france.