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turning his horse； galloped to the tribune。 There he pulled it to his
haunches and shouted out in a great voice：
〃Where is Cattrina？ Am I to be fooled； who appear here as the champion
of the King of England？ Where is Cattrina？ Produce Cattrina that I may
slay him or be slain； or； Chivalry of Venice； be forever shamed！〃
The Doge rose； uttering swift commands； and heralds ran here and
there。 Knights and captains searched the pavilions and every other
place where a mounted man might hide。 But they never found Cattrina；
and； returning at length； confessed as much with bowed heads。
The Doge； maddened by this ignominy； seized the great gold chain upon
his beast and burst it in two。
〃Cattrina has fled！〃 he shouted。 〃Or Satan himself has carried him
away！ At the least let his name be erased from the Golden Book of
Venice； and until he prove himself innocent； let no noble of Venice
stretch out to him the hand of fellowship。 Men of Venice； for you
Cattrina and his House are dead。〃
〃Will none take up his cause and fight for him？〃 asked Hugh through
Sir Geoffrey； and presently； at the Doge's command； the challenge was
repeated thrice by the herald。 But to it no answer came。 Of this
afterward Hugh was glad； since it was Cattrina's life he sought； not
that of any other man。 Then Hugh spoke again； saying：
〃I claim； O Illustrious； that I be written down as victor in this
combat to the death； bloodless through no fault of mine。〃
〃It shall be so written； noble Hugh de Cressi；〃 said the Doge。 〃Let
all Venice take notice thereof。〃
As the words left his lips the solid earth began to heave and rock。
At the first heave Hugh leaped from his horse； which screamed aloud
and fled away； and gripped hold of Grey Dick。 At the second； the
multitude broke out into wild cries； prayers and blasphemies； and
rushed this way and that。 At the third； which came quite slowly and
was the greatest of them all； the long stand of timber bent its flags
toward him as though in salute； then； with a slow； grinding crash；
fell over； entangling all within it beneath its ruin。 Also in the city
beyond； houses； whole streets of them； gabled churches and tall
towers； sank to the earth； while where they had been rose up wreathed
columns of dust。 To the south the sea became agitated。 Spouts of foam
appeared upon its smooth face； it drew back from the land； revealing
the slime of ages and embedded therein long…forgotten wrecks。 It
heaped itself up like a mountain； then； with a swift and dreadful
motion； advanced again in one vast wave。
In an instant all that multitude were in full flight。
Hugh and Dick fled like the rest； and with them David； though whither
they went they knew not。
All they knew was that the ground leapt and quivered beneath their
feet； while behind them came the horrible； seething hiss of water on
the crest of which men were tossed up and down like bits of floating
wood。
CHAPTER XV
THE DEATH AT WORK
Presently Hugh halted； taking shelter with his two companions behind
the stone wall of a shed that the earthquake had shattered； for here
they could not be trodden down by the mob of fugitives。
〃The wave has spent itself；〃 he said； pointing to the line of foam
that now retreated toward the ocean； taking with it many drowned or
drowning men。 〃Let us return and seek for Sir Geoffrey。 It will be
shameful if we leave him trapped yonder like a rat。〃
Dick nodded； and making a wide circuit to avoid the maddened crowd；
they came safely to the wrecked stand where they had last seen Sir
Geoffrey talking with the Doge。 Every minute indeed the mob grew
thinner； since the most of them had already passed； treading the life
out of those who fell as they went。
From this stand more than three fourths of those who were seated there
had already broken out； since it had not fallen utterly； and by good
fortune was open on all sides。 Some； however； tangled in the canvas
roof； were still trying to escape。 Other poor creatures had been
crushed to death； or； broken…limbed； lay helpless； or； worse still；
were held down beneath the fallen beams。
Several of these they freed； whereon those who were unharmed at once
ran away without thanking them。 But for a long while they could find
no trace of Sir Geoffrey。 Indeed； they were near to abandoning their
search； for the sights and sounds were sickening even to men who were
accustomed to those of battlefields； when Dick's quick ears caught the
tones of an English voice calling for help。 Apparently it came from
the back of the Doge's tribune； where lay a heap of dead。 Gaily
dressed folk who had fallen in the flight and been crushed； not by the
earthquake； but by the feet of their fellows。 These blackened and
disfigured men and women they dragged away with much toil； and at
last； to their joy； beneath them all found Sir Geoffrey Carleon。 In
another few minutes he must have died； for he was almost suffocated。
Indeed he would certainly have perished with the others had he not
been thrown under a fixed bench； whence one leg projected； which； as
they could see at once； was crushed and broken。 They drew him out as
gently as they could and gave him water to drink； whereof； mercifully
for them all； since by now they were utterly parched with thirst； they
had discovered a large silver pitcher full； standing in the corner of
a little ante…chamber to the tribune。 It was half hidden with
fragments of fine dresses and even jewels torn from the persons of the
lords and ladies。
〃I thank you； friends；〃 he said faintly。 〃I prayed them to keep
seated； but they went mad and would not listen。 Those behind trod down
those in front； till that doorway was choked and I was hurled beneath
the bench。 Oh； it was terrible to hear them dying about me and to know
that soon I must follow！ This； had it not been for you； I should have
done； for my leg is crushed and there was no air。〃
Then； having drunk and drunk until even their raging thirst was
satisfied； they found a plank。 Laying Sir Geoffrey on it； they
departed from that human shambles； whence the piteous cries of those
still imprisoned there； whom they could not reach； pursued them
horribly。
Thus； slowly enough； for there were but three of them； two hampered by
their mail； they bore Sir Geoffrey across the Place of Arms。 Save for
the dead and dying； and some ghoul…like knaves who plundered them； by
this time it was almost deserted。
Indeed； a large band of these wretches； who had emerged like wolves
from their lairs in the lowest quarters of the great city； catching
sight of the gold chain Sir Geoffrey wore； ran up with drawn daggers
to kill and rob them。
Seeing them come Grey Dick slipped the black bow from its case and
sent an arrow singing through the heart of the one…eyed villain who
captained them。 Thereon the rest left him where he fell and ran off to
steal and slay elsewhere。 Then without a word Dick unstrung the bow
and once more laid hold of an end of the plank。
They came to the mouth of that street where the bravoes had waylaid
them on the previous night； only to find that they could not pass this
way。 Here most of the houses were thrown down； and from their ruins
rose smoke and the hideous screams of those who perished。 It was this
part of Venice； the home of the poorer folk； which suffered most from
the earthquake； that had scarcely touched many of the finer quarters。
Still； it was reckoned afterward that in all it took a toll of nearly
ten thousand lives。
Turning from this street； they made their way to the banks of a great
canal that here ran into the harbour； that on which they had been
rowed to the Place of Arms。 Here by good luck they found a small boat
floating keep uppermost； for it had been overturned by the number of
people who crowded into it。 This boat they righted with much toil and
discovered within it a drowned lady； also an oar caught beneath the
seat。 After this their dreadful journey was easy； at least by
comparison。 For now all the gloom had rolled away； the sun shone out
and a fresh and pleasant wind blew from the sea toward the land。
So； at last； passing many sad and strange scenes that need not be
described； they came safely to the steps of the ambassador's beautiful
house which was quite uninjured。 Here they found several of his
servants wringing their hands and weeping； for word had been brought
to them that he was dead。 Also in the hall they were met by another
woe； for there on a couch lay stretched the Lady Carleon smitten with
some dread sickness which caused blood to flow from her mouth and
ears。 A physician was bending over her； for by good fortune one had
been found。
Sir Geoffrey asked him what ailed his wife。 He answered that he did
not know； having never seen the like till that morning； when he had
been called in to attend three such cases in houses far apart； whereof
one died within ten minutes of being struck。
Just then Lady Carleon's senses returned； and opening her eyes she saw
Sir Geoffrey； whom they had laid down upon another couch close to her。
〃Oh； they told me that you were dead； husband；〃 she said； 〃crushed or
swallowed in