CHAPTER XXI
"IF I WAS SUPERSTITIOUS——-"
"What is this?"
"An earthquake!"
"The island is sinking!"
"We'll have to get out of this!"
Such were some of the cries of the treasure hunters as the earth trembled beneath them.
For perhaps twenty seconds the sickening vibration continued. Then it stopped as suddenly as it had begun. The swaying trees finished their dizzy dance, and the rocks that had seemed to be bowing to each other like so many mummers resumed their impassive attitudes. Their lawless frolic had ended!
Drew had caught Ruth by the arm as she went down, and thus had broken the violence of her fall. But all were jarred and shaken.
As the more agile of the quartet, the young man was first on his feet. He tenderly assisted Ruth to rise, while the others scrambled up unaided.