There were thousands of ducks around the various lagoons in the neighborhood, and the sport was rare.

We had all the ducks we could eat.
Then came an earthquake, which tore and rent the baked earth apart.

The ground shivered, the windows rattled, the birds fell close to the ground and could not fly, the stove-pipes fell to the floor, the thick walls cracked and finally, the earth rocked to and fro like some huge thing trying to get its balance.
It was in the afternoon.

My sister and I were sitting with our needle-work in the living-room.

Little Harry was on the floor, occupied with some toys.