“Wish you could invent it right now,” began Ned with a laugh. “I——”
He stopped short with a puzzled look, which, oddly enough, was reflected on all their races the next moment.
“My legs are wobbly!” cried Tom.
“By the trident of Neptune,” roared Captain Andrews, “so are mine!”
“It’s not our legs!” cried Mr. Jesson, “it’s the ground that’s moving!”
“The whole island is quivering like jelly!” cried Ned.
“Good land, what ails de place? It’s done got chills and feber!” shouted Jupe from his pots and pans, which were now rolling in every direction.
The tremor grew stronger. Accompanying it was a queer, moaning sort of sound. All at once there came a violent convulsion, and they were all thrown flat. The roaring noise increased till it was almost deafening.
“It’s an earthquake!” called out Professor Chadwick.
“An earthquake?” cried the others in terrified tones as they rolled about.