But when the second roll of subterranean thunder was heard, and the cries and lamentations of the people were redoubled, the old man wrung his hands and groaned, "Oh, why did you let him go?" After the quiver pa.s.sed he sat up and strained his eyes in the direction from which he hoped again to see his son. The house was not far away, and George soon appeared staggering under a mattress, with bedding, clothing, and other articles essential to the comfort and safety of his father. Jube, under the doctor"s a.s.surances, was beginning to rally from his terror, and between them they speedily made the old man comfortable.
As George was arranging the pillows his father said, "G.o.d forgive me for being so obdurate, my boy. I know where your thoughts are. Go and help her if you can."
With heartfelt murmured thanks the young man kissed his father, and bounded away.
Ella Bodine and her father were truly in sore trouble. A few minutes before ten, Mrs. Bodine"s delicate and enfeebled organization succ.u.mbed to the heat and closeness of the air, and she suddenly swooned. Ella in alarm summoned her father and old Hannah, and all were engaged in applying restoratives when they too were appalled by the hideous sound which gave such brief and terrible warning of the disaster. The veteran, who sat by the bedside, chafing his cousin"s wrists with spirits, barely had time to get on his crutches when he was thrown violently to the floor, while Ella, with a wild cry, fell across the bed. Then, in expectation of instant death, they listened with an awe too great for expression to the infernal uproar, the crash of falling objects, the groaning and grinding of the swaying house, and above all to the voice of the deep, subterranean power which appeared to be rending the earth.
Most fortunately the gas was not extinguished, and when it was still again, Ella rushed to her father, and exclaimed as she helped him up, "Oh, papa, what is this?"
"De Jedgmen Day," said a quivering voice.
Bodine"s face was very white, but his iron nerves did not give way.
"Ella," he said firmly, "you must keep calm and do as I say. It is an earthquake. Since the house stands we may hope to revive Cousin Sophy before taking her to the street. Come, Hannah, get up and do your best."
From her sitting posture on the floor, the old woman only answered in a low terrified monotone, "De Jedgmen Day."
"Oh, papa, she"s just crazed, and we must do everything ourselves;" and, Ella, with trembling hands and stifled sobs, began to aid her father. "Oh, hear those awful cries in the street," she said after a moment. "Don"t you think we should try to take cousin out?"
"If I were not so helpless!" Bodine groaned. "Hannah, wake up and help."
"De Jedgmen Day," was the only response.
"There is no use to look to her, papa. I"m strong. See, I can lift cousin, she is so light."
"No, Ella, it might injure you for life. If we could only partially revive her, and she could help you a little--There may not be another shock."
They worked on, growing more a.s.sured as the house remained quiet. Hannah was evidently crazed for the time being, for, deaf to all expostulations, she would not move, and kept repeating the terrible refrain.
"O G.o.d!" said Bodine in tones of the deepest distress, "to think that I cannot go to Mara!"
"Well, papa, you can"t help it. Your duty is here. May G.o.d pity and save us all!"
At last the ominous rumble began again in the distance. Ella gave her father a startled look, and saw confirmation of her fear in his face. Old Hannah started up exclaiming, "De Lawd is comin" now shuah. I"se gwine ter meet Him," and she rushed away.
With another wild cry Ella lifted the form of her cousin in her arms, and, with a strength created by the emergency, staggered down the stairs to the door. Then a man saw and relieved her of her burden. Bodine with difficulty tried to follow, but could not during the brief shock. When all was still again he threw the bedding over his shoulder, went down and speedily checked Ella"s wild cries that he should not delay.
The street was comparatively wide; the houses were not high, and they found themselves in the midst of a group of refugees like themselves--mothers sobbing over their babes, men caring for sick and fainting wives, and children standing by feeble and aged parents. Family servants crouched on the pavement beside their employers, and continually gave utterance to ejaculatory prayers which found sympathetic echoes in the stoutest hearts. Many were coming and going. The place seemed a partial refuge, yet the proximity of houses led one group after another to seek the open squares. In many instances rare fort.i.tude and calmness were displayed. Here, as elsewhere throughout the city, frail women, more often than strong men, were patient and resigned in their Christian faith.
Ella supported Mrs. Bodine"s head upon her lap, and others now aided in the effort to bring back consciousness. Fortunately, however, for the poor lady, she knew not what was pa.s.sing.
Suddenly the group parted to make way for a hatless, coatless man, whose face was terribly disfigured with blood and dust. Nevertheless Ella recognized him with the glad cry, "Mr. Houghton!"
"Thank Heaven you are safe!" he gasped, panting heavily; and he gave his hand to Mr. Bodine.
"But you are injured," said the captain, in deep solicitude.
"No, nothing worth mentioning; merely cut and bruised. I came as soon as I had fixed my father safe in the square. I thought you might need help."
"Mr. Houghton, you are overwhelming us--"
"Please don"t think and talk that way. G.o.d knows, a man should give help where it is most needed at such a time. This is Mrs. Bodine?"
"Yes, she fainted before the first shock. We have been unable to revive her. At the last shock my daughter carried her down."
"Miss Bodine!" exclaimed George in surprise and admiration.
She gave him a swift glance through her tears, and then, dropping her eyes, resumed her efforts to revive her cousin.
"You may well exclaim," said her father. "How she did it I do not know.
Excitement gave strength, I suppose."
"Everything these kind friends and I can do for her seems useless," Ella faltered.
"Let me get my wind a little," said George, eagerly, "and I will carry her to the square, where my father is. A good physician is with him."
At this instant came a third and severer shock than the last, and with it the new terror which sickened the bravest. "O G.o.d," cried Ella, "will there be no respite?" Then observing for the first time the pillars of light and smoke rising at different points, she cried in still deeper fear, "Oh, papa, can those be volcanic fires?"
"No, no, my child."
"I saw a fire kindling in a deserted house as I came," George added excitedly. "Truly, Captain Bodine, this is no place for your family; or,"
turning to the groups near, "for you either, friends. Ah, see! there is a house almost opposite beginning to burn. Come;" and without further hesitation he lifted Mrs. Bodine and strode away.
Not only Ella and her father followed, but also the others, those who were the strongest supporting the feeble and injured.
They had gone but little way before Bodine said, "Ella, I must go and see if Mara has escaped. I cannot seek safety myself unless a.s.sured that she is safe."
"Oh, papa, it will be almost suicide for you to go through these streets alone."
"Ella, there are some things so much worse than death. If you and cousin were alone I would not leave you, but with a strong helper and a physician in prospect I must go. How could I look Mara in the face again if I made no effort in her behalf? Explain to Mr. Houghton."
He dropped behind, then turned up a side street and carefully yet quickly halted over and around the impediments strewn in the way.
Aware of the danger of delay, George went forward with a rapid stride.
"Can you keep up?" he asked.
"Yes," Ella replied.
"We must get by and beyond these higher buildings. I have the horrible dread that they may fall on you any moment."
"You never seem to think of yourself, Mr. Houghton."
"I must now," he said after a moment or two. "Here is a corner at which we can rest, for there are no high buildings near;" and he sank on the ground with Mrs. Bodine still in his arms.
"Oh, you are killing yourself!" she cried in deep distress.
"Not at all, only resting. Where is your father?"
Ella explained and revealed her fears.