ost because of the danger that
surrounded themselves. The shock or series of shocks continued for
several minutes, during which time the houses were falling into ruins in
all directions, and there was so much danger in remaining in any of the
streets that most of the inhabitants who had escaped flocked, as with
one consent, into the great square--many of them, however, being killed
by falling masonry on their way thither. Others nearer the outskirts of
the town fled into the woods.

When this shock ceased, the earthquake appeared to have terminated for
that time, but even if it had continued, further damage could scarcely
have been done, for the little town was reduced to a heap of ruins. The
desolation was complete. Scarcely a house was left uninjured, and the
greater part of the buildings were completely demolished. But the
sights that met the eye were not more terrible than the sounds which
filled the ear. Death and destruction reigned on every side. Groans of
agony and frantic cries for deliverance were heard issuing from beneath
the ruins, while men, women, and children were seen rushing about with
dishevelled hair and bloodshot eyes, wildly searching for, and shouting
the names of, their lost relatives and friends, or crying to God for
mercy. It was a sickening and terrible sight--a sight in regard to
which those who dwell in the more favoured parts of our sin-smitten
world can form but a very faint conception.

At first all was disorder, but by degrees the spirits of the survivors
began to calm down a little, and then systematic efforts were made to
rescue those who had not been killed outright. It need scarcely be said
that in this work our hero and his companions were conspicuously
energetic. Will and Don Pedro organised the men into gangs and wherever
cries or groans were heard, they tore up and removed the ruins so
vigorously that the poor sufferers were speedily released; but in
performing this work they uncovered the torn, crushed, and mangled
bodies of hundreds of the dead.

"Come here, Larry," said Will, in a low, sad tone, as he stood on a pile
of rubbish digging towards a spot where he had heard a faint cry as if
from a female. The Irishman leaped to his side and saw a small hand
sticking out of the rubbish. It quivered convulsively, showing that
life still remained. With desperate eagerness, yet tender care, the two
men disentombed the poor creature, who proved to be a women with a child