THE DESTRUCTION OF SZEGEDIX. 25 



was making my way out of the hotel, when the gas 

 went out, and the whole town was in utter darkness. 

 Hurrying into the street, I found it filled with people, 

 flying in the direction of the river embankment, 

 which was known to be high and strong. By this 

 time the storm had increased to a perfect hurricane, 

 adding much to the general bewilderment, for the 

 torches Avere perpetually blown out. The townsfolk 

 seemed as unprepared and panic-stricken as if the 

 catastrophe had not stared them in the face for days. 

 Throughout the town the church bells were tolling 

 the knell of the doomed city ; but one could only 

 hear the dismal warning now and then when there 

 was a lull in the shrieking storm. I was told that, 

 in one quarter of the town, the signals of distress 

 were never heard at all, owing to the noise and fury 

 of the wind. The darkness the uncertainty as 

 to where the danger was greatest the unreasoning 

 struggles of the people all added to the dire con- 

 fusion of this awful night I had been running in 

 the direction of the town-hall, but had not gone far 

 when I was met by the oncoming waters. I was 

 knee-deep in the flood at once ; and not daring to go 

 on, I turned and fled with all speed in the direction 

 of the river-dike. It was well for me that I had not 

 lost my bearings. I knew that if I could gain the 

 river -dike I should be all right; for I could com- 

 municate with my friends on board the steamer. 

 Peaching the embankment, I found it so crowded 



