eeling. Again the movement began, at first _very_
gently, and then rapidly increasing till the whole house seemed to be
moving up and down, like a ship at sea, while all the timbers creaked
and cracked as if it were about to fall to pieces.

"What is the matter? What is it?" cried Frau Ursula, starting up. "Oh
dear! oh dear! there's an earthquake!" and she sprang from her bed.
"Come! fly, girls, fly! The house will come down!" she screamed out.

Her voice awakened those in the other rooms who were still asleep.
"Don't be alarmed!" I heard my uncle saying. "A marble palace would be
thrown to the ground long before this house will be. We are as safe
here as anywhere."

Scarcely had he spoken, however, when several crashes were heard in
succession, and the house shook so much that I felt almost sea-sick. In
spite of my uncle's exhortation, the Frau hastily threw on her clothes,
and we, imitating her example, followed her down the steps, where we
were speedily joined by the rest of the inmates. There were strange
noises in the forest, and it seemed as if the trees were knocking
together, while the animals round us uttered unusual cries. My uncle
and Tanda were the only people who remained inside. He again cried to
us to come back, and at length the Frau was persuaded to return. He had
struck a light, and enabled us to see our way.

"There, go to bed again," he said; "a few bottles and cases only have
been tumbled down, and no harm has been done."

It was some time, however, after we had gone to our room, before we
could again go to sleep. It seemed to me that we had scarcely been
asleep many minutes before we felt another shock, very nearly as violent
as the first. We again started up, and my uncle's voice was once more
heard, urging us all to remain quiet, and not expose ourselves to the
damp night air. This time we obeyed him, though the Frau sitting up
wrung her hands, wishing herself in some region where earthquakes were
not experienced, and burning mountains were not to be seen. Neither
Grace nor I could sleep for the remainder of the night; and I found that
Oliver had been kept awake.

The next morning, when we met at breakfast, we looked somewhat pale, I
suspect. My uncle was inclined to banter us, and told us that we should
not mind such things, as he had felt several since he had been on the
island, and no harm had come from them. I saw him, however, soon after
that looking somewhat anxiousl