ge our shelter,
for us to be swept away like chaff before the wind. I had witnessed many
a hurricane, but this fearful night exceeded all.

At last daylight appeared; the sun rose gloomily, and exposed the
disasters of the terrible night. On every side trees, broken and
uprooted, lay prostrate on the ground, or, half suspended by the
creepers entangled in their branches, were balanced like the formidable
_battering-rams_ of the ancients. Lucien was speechless at the sight
before his eyes. A sudden cracking noise was heard, and another forest
giant slowly bent over, and, describing a rapid curve, crushed its
branches against the ground; ten seconds destroyed the work of
centuries.

L'Encuerado attempted to go two or three yards beyond our rock; but,
surprised by a sudden gust, he had but just time to throw himself
prostrate on the ground to prevent being swept away. Something, however,
had to be done; it was no use trying to light a fire, and yet, after
yesterday's fast and a sleepless night, we felt great need of some
comforting beverage. The squalls gradually abated, but were still every
now and then violent. Intervals of profound silence succeeded to the
uproar of the storm, when the leaves were motionless; then we might have
fancied the tempest was over. But suddenly the frightful roar again
commenced, and the gale covered the ground with fresh fragments.

We were beginning to take courage a little, when a formidable crash
resounded above us; an enormous pine, growing on the mountain a hundred
feet over our heads, tottered and then fell, tumbling down the slope
with a horrible uproar. Quick as lightning, l'Encuerado seized Lucien,
and lay down with him along the foot of the rock; I and my friend
immediately followed his example. The fallen giant came crashing down in
rapid bounds, smashing every thing in its path, and accompanied in its
descent by masses of broken rock. It struck against the block that
sheltered us, which gave forth a dull sound, but fortunately resisted
the shock; and then the tree, clearing the obstacle with a prodigious
bound, continued its impetuous course down to the foot of the mountain.
We were nearly crushed by a perfect avalanche of stones which followed
in its wake.

I raised myself, not without emotion. The danger had been serious;
indeed, the enormous rock to which we owed our safety had slightly
swerved. If this accident had occurred in the middle of the night, the
fright would have