, accompanied by occasional peals of
thunder, we supposed that a storm must be approaching. Gradually,
however, this line seemed to draw nearer, without spreading up over the
sky, as would certainly have been the case if it had been a storm-cloud.
Still nearer it came, and soon we saw that it was moving swiftly towards
the island; but there was no sound till it reached the islands out at
sea. As it passed these islands, we observed, with no little anxiety,
that a cloud of white foam encircled them, and burst in spray into the
air: it was accompanied by a loud roar. This led us to conjecture that
the approaching object was an enormous wave of the sea; but we had no
idea how large it was till it came near to ourselves. When it approached
the outer reef, however, we were awe-struck with its unusual magnitude;
and we sprang to our feet, and clambered hastily up to the highest point
of the precipice, under an indefinable feeling of fear.

I have said before that the reef opposite Spouting Cliff was very near to
the shore, while, just in front of the bower, it was at a considerable
distance out to sea. Owing to this formation, the wave reached the reef
at the latter point before it struck at the foot of Spouting Cliff. The
instant it touched the reef we became aware, for the first time, of its
awful magnitude. It burst completely over the reef at all points, with a
roar that seemed louder to me than thunder; and this roar continued for
some seconds, while the wave rolled gradually along towards the cliff on
which we stood. As its crest reared before us, we felt that we were in
great danger, and turned to flee; but we were too late. With a crash
that seemed to shake the solid rocks the gigantic billow fell, and
instantly the spouting-holes sent up a gush of water-spouts with such
force that they shrieked on issuing from their narrow vents. It seemed
to us as if the earth had been blown up with water. We were stunned and
confused by the shock, and so drenched and blinded with spray, that we
knew not for a few moments whither to flee for shelter. At length we all
three gained an eminence beyond the reach of the water; but what a scene
of devastation met our gaze as we looked along the shore! This enormous
wave not only burst over the reef, but continued its way across the
lagoon, and fell on the sandy beach of the island with such force that
passed completely over it and dashed into the woods, levelling the
smaller t