Every soul had left the church save the three before the pulpit.
An avalanche! and the ceremony was as yet incomplete! Ermentrude never forgot Carleton Roberts' look.

Doubtless he never forgot hers.

Meanwhile the minister spoke.
"There is a chance for escape.

Take it; the good God will pardon you." But the bridegroom stood firm and the bride shook her head.
"Not till the words are said which make us man and wife," declared Carleton Roberts.

"Unless"-- and here his perfect courtesy manifested itself even in this crisis of life and death--"you feel it your duty to carry what assistance you can to the saving of your frightened flock." "God must save my flock," said the minister with a solemn glance upward.
"I am where my duty places me." And calmly as though the pews were filled with guests and joy attended the ceremony instead of apprehended doom, he proceeded with the rite.
"Wilt thou have this man...." The glad "I will" leaped bravely from Ermentrude's lips; but it was lost in loud calls and shrieks from without, mingled with that sound--terrible to all who hear--impossible to describe--of the might of the hills made audible in this down-rushing mass, now halting, now gathering fresh momentum, but coming--always coming, till its voice, but now a threat, swells into thunder in which all human cries are lost, and only from the movement of the minister's lips can this couple see that the words which make them one are being spoken.
Then comes the benediction, and with the falling of those holy hands, a headlong rush into the open air--a vision of flying forms here, there, and everywhere--men staggering under foolish burdens--women on their knees with arms lifted to heaven or flung around their babes--hope lost under the bowing mountain; and in the midst of it all, plain to the view of all, the stranger's horse and carriage which, standing there, stamped with undying honor these terrified villagers, who had seen and not touched them though Death had them by the hair.
* * * * * "Quick! quick! You mother there with the child, get in, get in; there is room here for one more." But another got the place.