Several of the huge reptiles seemed making for the Steam Man. Frank’s hand was on the throttle rein, and he was about to pull it, when a terrible thing happened. There was a dull, distant rumbling like thunder. The air became suddenly still and oppressive. Instinctively Frank knew at that moment what was coming. ‪“The earthquake!” he shouted. ‪“Steady, all! Look out for yourselves!” Frank gave the throttle rein a yank. The Steam Man ran instantly to the center of the plaza and came to a halt. Then a mighty, sullen roar was heard, a terrific gust of wind swept down the avenue, and the earthquake came. For a moment it seemed as if the Steam Man would be overturned. The ground rose and fell in billows. The air was filled with the thunder and crash of falling buildings. The temple of treasure, which was full of the anacondas, was literally leveled to the dust. It remained a great, moldering heap of ruins. Dozens, perhaps hundreds of the huge snakes were crushed in the ruins. The treasure of Mazendla was beyond the reach of our adventurers now. In three minutes the entire disturbance was over. The city presented a vastly different aspect now. Many of the mammoth buildings were a heap of ruins. Trees were uprooted, and a scene of havoc was upon every hand. “Golly fo’ goodness!” gasped the startled Pomp, as he pulled himself together. “I kain’t say dat I’m stuck on yarthquakes, am yo’ Marse Frank?” ‪“No,” replied Frank, as he adjusted a sprained shoulder. ‪“And what is more, we will start this very moment for civilization, and the land where earthquakes never happen.” ‪“Good!” cried Tony Buckden. “I’m with you.” “Bejabers, I’m the same,” cried Barney. Not one gave thought to the deeply buried treasure of Mazendla now. It proved in after days that their decision was a wise one. The silverware preserved by Frank and Tony, as well as coins, turned out to be a weak alloy. The diamonds were the real treasure, and Frank had secured them all. So the treasure of Mazendla yet remains unearthed. Certainly, it was never thought worth while by our explorers to ever return for it. It required some time to pick their way out of the ruined city. But they finally succeeded, and emerged upon the vast table-land of Tanada once more. The Steam Man at a rapid rate of speed kept on the return route to Campeachy. But the return trip was not devoid of incident. When two days out from Mazendla, the Steam Man came to a vast morass between high mountains, and surrounded by tall reeds. The Steam Man on the way out had found little difficulty in skirting this to the eastward. But rains had since fallen and the morass was a lake. Any attempt to go over the return route now must result in sinking the Steam Man in great depths of mire. So a halt was called and a consultation held. There seemed to be no other way of surmounting this obstacle but to camp and wait patiently for the water to subside.