. 

We were all in a pale huddle in the little passage between 
the rooms. How we all got there we hardty knew. And 
still, among us, hissed and snapped the little fiery atoms with 
which the atmosphere was all alive. 

" Come in here ! " cried Miss Remember, and dragged who- 
ever was nearest her. We hustled down, over the stair-head, 
into the dark, middle room.  pulled out the bedstead 
from the wall, and we six women heaped ourselves upon it. 
It was better here, where it was always dark, than out there 
where the awful murk had come upon us. 

Over our heads, under our feet, beside us, or every- 
where, was that  and boom and multiplied fulminant 
crash ? 

Where was the lightning ? We saw nothing. 

No blaze ; but from the height above our heads to the deep 
beneath, one terrible outburst and downburst ; one unspeak- 
able plunging blast of destruction. 

Then smoke, the house full ; and a stifle of sulphur. 

We were struck. Yet we were all alive. 

Was the house on  ? Should we be driven out into the 
storm ? Where would the flame burst out ? 

We could only wait, paralyzed. 

Still the pouring smoke ; the sickening sulphurous smell, 
and the taint