able and satisfactory, so after some
little further talk we returned to the drawing-room and resumed our
music. But shortly afterward we were again disturbed twice by
recurrences of the same phenomenon; we accordingly gave it up, and I
went off to my cabin, debating within myself whether I should change
into my working rig or turn in.

Finally I decided upon the former alternative, since I did not feel much
inclined for sleep, and when I had effected the change I went up on
deck, thinking that possibly a spell of fresh air would bring on the
desired drowsiness.

As I reached the main-deck four bells (ten o'clock) were struck, and the
look-out had just responded with the stereotyped cry of "All's well!"
when there occurred another shock, so violent and protracted that some
of the hands cried out in terror. It is difficult to gauge the passage
of time accurately at such a moment, but I think this shock must have
lasted nearly, if not quite, two minutes; and the sensation to which I
can most nearly compare it is that of a ship being swept and jolted over
the rough surface of a coral reef by a red-hot tide.

So strong and so alarming was the shock that it created something almost
amounting to panic among the crew, a few of whom, in their alarm, raised
a cry to launch the boats; and it was not without some difficulty that
they were eventually persuaded that the yacht was quite uninjured, and
that they were therefore far safer on her deck than they could possibly
be in any boat. I was not greatly surprised at their alarm, for the
phenomenon was of so unusual and startling a character that, to confess
the truth, I felt my own self-possession a little inclined to "wilt", as
my companions would probably have put it.

Meanwhile the saloon party, like everybody else, had rushed on deck in
alarm, and were eagerly discussing the occurrence. Monroe assured the
two ladies that they need not be in the least degree uneasy, since,
strange as the phenomenon might be to us, it was really not so very
extraordinary or unusual, especially in the region where we now found
ourselves; and he was making good headway in his effort to reassure his
audience when suddenly there occurred another and still more violent
shock. This was so pronounced that it set the sea all a-quiver with
ripples, which seemed to run in the direction of all the points of the
compass, crossing and recrossing each other at every conceivable angle
with such rapidity