Chapter Six.
The Earthquake.
One.
They slept so soundly that they did not hear low rolling sounds of thunder or see the moon go out of sight behind a black cloud. Even lightning did not rouse them, but when at last the rain came splashing down over their bare skins they woke up. There was no shelter for them, so they huddled together in a wet heap and waited for the rain to be over and for the morning to come. It was no gentle spring shower.
The water poured down like a deluge. They were very wretched, and Firefly began to cry.
“Now, see here,” Limberleg said to her, “there’s water enough already! You needn’t add your tears, or we shall all be drowned! The rain will be over some time. It won’t hurt you.”
When the lightning flashed, they could see the trees waving and bending in the wind and great breakers rolling up over the sandy beach.
But the rain wasn’t the worst that was to happen. After a while there came a strange shivering feeling in the rocks beneath them. It grew stronger and stronger till the whole earth shook and trembled.