IN DAYS OF POVERTY 9l 



gallop as fast as possible to the place of shelter. But it 

 would not do; the animal knew better than I what was 

 forthcoming, and instead of going faster, so nearly stopped 

 that I remarked he placed one foot after another on the 

 ground with as much precaution as if walking on a smooth 

 sheet of ice. I thought he had suddenly foundered, and, 

 speaking to him, was on the point of dismounting and lead- 

 ing him, when all of a sudden he fell a-groaning piteously, 

 hung his head, spread out his four legs, as if to save him- 

 self from falling, and stood stock still, continuing to groan. 

 I thought my horse was about to die, and would have 

 sprung from his back had a moment more elapsed; but at 

 that instant all the shrubs and trees began to move from 

 their very roots, the ground rose and fell in successive fur- 

 rows, like the ruffled waters of a lake, and I became be- 

 wildered in my ideas, as I too plainly discovered that all 

 this awful commotion in nature was the result of an earth- 

 quake. 



" I had never witnessed anything of the kind before, 

 although, like every other person, I knew of earthquakes 

 by description. But what is description compared with 

 reality? Who can tell of the sensations which I experi- 

 enced when I found myself rocking, as it were, upon my 

 horse, and with him moved to and fro like a child in a 

 cradle, with the most imminent danger around me? The 

 fearful convulsion, however, lasted only a few minutes, and 

 the heavens again brightened as quickly as they had be- 



