Tell Maximiliano to get the mules out." "If he has been after the diamonds," I thought, "he must know that I have taken them away.

I had better make sure of them." And with that I stepped into my room, put on my quilted jacket, and armed myself with a small hatchet and a broad-bladed, highly tempered knife, given to me by the abbe, which served both as a dagger and a _machete_.
When I had seen the mules safely tethered, and warned the servants and others to run into the open if there should be another shock, I returned to Angela, who had resumed her seat in the veranda.
"Equipped for the mountains! Where away now, _caro mio_ ?" she said, regarding me with some surprise.
"Nowhere.

At any rate, I have no present intention of running away.

I have put on my jacket because of these diamonds, and brought my hatchet and hunting-knife because, if the house collapses, I should not be able to get them at the very time they would be the most required." "If the house collapses! You think, then, we are going to have a bad earthquake ?" "It is possible.

This is an earthquake country; there has been nothing more serious than a slight trembling since long before the abbe died; and I have a feeling that something more serious is about to happen.
Underground thunder is always an ominous symptom .-- Ah! There it is again.
Run into the garden.