AN EARTHQUAKE. 167 



wearying and almost an endless task, but tlie thought 

 continually occurred to me that, if I should not be 

 permitted to return to my native land, such au- 

 thentic labels in my own handwriting would en- 

 able any one into whose hands my collection might 

 fall to fully accomplish the object of my long jour- 

 ney. 



July 2Sd. — ^This morning, at a quarter-past foui', 

 I was suddenly awaked by some cause which, for the 

 moment, I could not understand, but immediately 

 there began a low, heavy rumbling down deep in the 

 earth. It was not a roar, but such a rattling or 

 quick succession of reports as is made when a number 

 of heavily-laden coaches are rapidly driven down a 

 steep street paved with round col^ble-stones. At 

 the next instant it seemed as if some huge giant had 

 seized my bed, and had pushed it from him and then 

 pulled it toward him with the greatest violence. 

 The gentleman and lady with whom I was residing 

 shouted out to me : " Run out of the house ! run for 

 your life ! There is a dreadful earthquake ! " 



Back of the main house was the dining-room, 

 suiTounded by a low wall, and covered with a light 

 roof This was our place of refuge. The gentle- 

 man then explained to me that the shock which 

 had just occurred was the second, and a very se- 

 vere one, and the first, which was light, was what 

 had so suddenly aroused me from a deep sleep. Of 

 course, no one of us knew but another still heavier 

 might come at the next instant and lay all the 

 buildings near us in a mass of ruins, if indeed the 

 earth should not open and swallow us all alive. 



