36 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. . 
of some drugs in jars and phials, lancets, ampu 
tating knives, and other sanguinary apparatus, 
which, filling a corner of his large and solidly 
built log house, had a few days before narrowly 
escaped destruction through the shock. At 
length all retired to rest—some to be haunted 
by bright faces, sighs and smiles; others to sink 
into pleasing dreams or oblivion as delightful. 
But oh! “that on night so blest such awful 
morn should rise!” Instead of tender accents 
and soft sighs, gentle ears were greeted at dawn 
by the rumbling noise of the agitated earth. 
Unhesitating demonstrations of true terror were 
exchanged for the silently endured apprehen- 
sions, or timid avowal of less overwhelming emo 
tions. Young and old anticipating instant de- 
struction, rushed wildly into the grass enclosure 
fronting the building, terrified at the creaking of 
the log-house, to mingle agajn in a general as- 
sembly—this time, however, as disorderly and 
incongruous as that of the spirits meeting in 
Macbeth. 
Meanwhile the full moon slowly descended 
from her throne, attended by a stately retinue of 
dark clouds intervening, as if to conceal from 
her placid saintly gaze the confusion of the scene 
below. Thus the ladies in their frail and partial 
attire were happily veiled in appropriate obscu- 
rity, and recognitions to the discomfiture of the 
