n hatches, spread out our sleeping mats and made
ourselves comfortable for the night, and after half an hour's smoke, we
fell asleep too tired to talk.

*****

A little after midnight the cool breeze suddenly died away, and both
Tepi and myself awoke almost at the same moment.

"The air hath grown hot, and is hard to breathe, master," said the big
man "I fear a storm is near."

It had indeed become very hot and stifling, but on looking at the
barometer, I saw there was no change, and so felt no concern, for we
were in an excellent position, no matter how hard, and from where it
might blow. In half an hour or so, a few heavy splashes of rain fell,
then a sudden shower, which necessitated us lifting off the hatch and
going into the cabin, and it was then that Tepi complained to me of a
severe headache, from which I was also beginning to suffer.

I had just struck a match to take another look at the glass, when
suddenly the boat began to tremble violently, and then gave such a
sudden jerk at her cable that I fell forward on my face.

"_Mafuie! Mafuie!_" ("Earthquake! earthquake!") cried Tepi in
terror-stricken tones, as he clutched the coamings and looked seaward.
"Oh, Simi, look, look! The sea, the sea! We perish!"

May God spare me from ever seeing such another sight! A black towering
wall of water was rushing towards the boat, and ere I could frame my
lips to utter an appeal for mercy to the Almighty it was upon us, and
lifting us up on the summit of its awful crest, hurled us shoreward to
destruction. Then I remembered no more.

[Illustration: Lifting us up on the summit of its awful crest 212]

*****

Two weeks later I awoke to life and misery in a wide, low-ceiled room.
Tepi, with his arm in a sling, was bending over me, and sitting beside
my bed were two padres.

"Where am I, good fathers?" I asked.

"In San Ignacio, my son," replied the elder of the two. "God has spared
you and this Indian sailor of yours to render thanks to Him and the Holy
Virgin for His mercy."

"And where are my friends--the two girls and Tematau? Tell me, Tepi!
Tell me," I said, with a dull terror at my heart. "Why do you shake and
hide your face?" Then I turned to the priests.

"For God's sake, tell me, gentlemen," and I clutched the hand of the one
nearest to me.

"In Paradise, my son. They and three hundred other poor souls rendered
up their lives to God thirteen days ago. Scarcely a score of people in
Tarafofo escaped."