86 JUNE 



some of those red Calladiums from under the 

 mangoes." 



He went. I stood still, considering my plans 

 just outside the verandah, close to the Kuddum tree, 

 under which was arranged a rockery ; how clean 

 and sweet it all seemed after the rain ! I was enjoy- 

 ing the scent of the earth and grass, and the relief 

 from the overpowering heat, when suddenly there 

 was in my ear a sound of a loud rumbling over 

 away to the north-east. I hardly formed any idea 

 of words in my thoughts, but it flashed through me, 

 that that was an unusual sort of kettle-drumming 

 among the soldiers in the lines. It was something 

 like a train in a tunnel, but muffled. A second 

 after, I found the ground heaving beneath my feet. 

 I toed and heeled involuntarily, as one does on 

 board ship in a choppy sea. Then I became aware 

 that this was an earthquake. I looked at the 

 house, and saw it was swaying from side to side, 

 with a rocky sort of motion ; and from within 

 came great crashes of sound. Then I remembered 

 Unda was upstairs, practising her violin. 



In an agony I called, "Unda, Unda!" She 

 came to the verandah rails, waved her arm and 



