"Oh, you—you wicked one!" He shook his fist at the mountain.
His head began to spin. The streets were more silent than ever, for the sight-seers had all gone. Tall columns, like black knights, stood guard over the buried city.
Tony had heard the guide say that at a certain hour the gates would close. Was that hour now past? Was he locked in the deserted city, alone? Trapped, like victims of the volcano so long ago?
He felt ill. He was burning with fever. He started toward the gate, squeezing Tina until she grunted.
Then, all at once, his legs seemed to disappear beneath him and he sank to the earth.
The ruins of Pompeii whirled all about him. Vesuvius blew a great column of smoke in his face, and he knew no more!