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.