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366 And then there was a long tremor as if the whole island sighed to its very depths, followed by a more violent spasm. The floor of the cavern shook. Fragments fell from the roof, one crimsoning the temple of the prostrate girl, and the great birds of the night, startled from their brooding, flew from the dark recesses with weird and horrible cries.

The tremor subsided, but the old wretch dropped the skull and sank on the floor, praying in rabid fear to some unseen power—he knew not on whom to call.