the house crumbled we could distinguish nothing
but a tempest, a swirling of waves beneath the debris of the roof. Then
calm was restored, the surface became smooth; and out of the black hole
of the engulfed house projected the skeleton of its framework. There
was a mass of entangled beams, and, amongst them, I seemed to see a body
moving, something living making superhuman efforts.

"He lives!" I cried. "Oh, God be praised! He lives!"

We laughed nervously; we clapped our hands, as if saved ourselves.

"He is going to raise himself up," said Pierre.

"Yes, yes," said Gaspard, "he is trying to seize the beam on his left."

But our laugh ceased. We had just realized the terrible situation in
which Cyprien was placed. During the fall of the house his feet had been
caught between two beams, and he hung head downward within a few inches
of the water. On the roof of the next house Aimee was still standing,
holding her two children. A convulsive tremor shook her. She did not
take her eyes from her husband, a few yards below her. And, mad with
horror, she emitted without cessation a lamentable sound like the
howling of a dog.

"We can't let him die like that," said Jacques, distracted. "We must get
down there."

"Perhaps we could slide down the beams and save him," remarked Pierre.

And they started toward the neighboring roof, when the second house
collapsed, leaving a gap in the route. Then a chill seized us. We
mechanically grasped each other's hands, wringing them cruelly as we
watched the harrowing sight.

Cyprien had tried at first to stiffen his body. With extraordinary
strength, he had lifted himself above the water, holding his body in
an oblique position. Rut the strain was too great. Nevertheless,
he struggled, tried to reach some of the beams, felt around him for
something to hold to. Then, resigning himself, he fell back again,
hanging limp.

Death was slow in coming. The water barely covered his hair, and it rose
very gradually. He must have felt its coolness on his brain. A wave wet
his brow; others closed his eyes. Slowly we saw his head disappear.

The women, at our feet, had buried their faces in their clasped hands.
We, ourselves, fell to our knees, our arms outstretched, weeping,
stammering supplications.

On the other roof Aimee, still standing, her children clasped to her
bosom, howled mournfully into the night.

IV.

I know not how long we remained in a stupor after that tragedy.