ment
likely to be engulfed. The town itself was a heap of ruins, scarcely a
house was standing, and none had escaped injury. In some places flames
were raging, which would have set fire to other houses had it not been
for the mass of water descending on them, while even amid the uproar of
the elements we could hear the shrieks and cries of the inhabitants who
still survived. Presently another immense wave rolled into sight, out
of the dense mist which now shrouded the ocean. On it came with a
tremendous roar. The first vessel it reached was in a moment buried
beneath it. We thought the others would share the same fate, but the
cables parted, and they were borne on the summit of the wave high up
above the beach. On, on it came. Mr Ringer shouted out to us to
escape; and he had reason to do so, for it seemed as if the wave would
overwhelm the spot where we stood. Though the water swept up a portion
of the height, the wave broke before it reached it, leaving the
_Princess Royal_ high and dry on the shore, while it receded, roaring
and hissing, carrying off everything in its course. The crew of the
stranded ship had good cause to be thankful for their escape. On again
looking towards the town, we saw that the sea had swept away many of the
houses in the lower part, while the water rushed through the streets,
extinguishing some of the fires, and must have overwhelmed all caught in
its embrace. Mr Ringer proposed that we should make our way to the
barracks, but the ladies were unwilling to encounter the storm, and
begged to remain where they were. Evening was now approaching, but the
hurricane gave no signs of abating. In whatever direction we looked we
could see its dire effects. Not a shrub, not a cane, remained standing.
Every tree had been blown down. It seemed as if a vast scythe had
passed over the land. The uproar continued as loud as before.

"This is a mighty curious country," shouted Larry to me. "It beats a
faction fight in Tipperary hollow. I was after thinking it was the most
peaceable disposed part of the world, seeing how quiet it has been since
we came out here. Hullo! what's that?"

There was a loud rumbling sound. The earth shook beneath our feet.

"It's an earthquake," cried Mr Ringer. "Heaven forbid that it should
increase."

The ladies clung to Mr Martin with looks of terror. Again there came
that fearful shaking of the earth; many of the remaining buildings
toppled over. Flash