We left our good friend Captain Pinto, having just parted from Luis, hurrying off on a visit of charity to the stranger Senhor Mendez. He found him, contrary to his expectations, considerably recovered; the slight attack he had suffered on the previous night, which had alarmed his attendant, having passed off, though he was still unable to leave his couch. Seating himself by his side, the gallant sailor detailed to him various circumstances which had happened in the world since he had last seen him, when their conversation turned upon matters of yet greater interest, and so engrossed were they in their subject, that they did not attend to the first dread signals of approaching confusion. Soon again, the noise grew louder, the house shook, and the upper story, with a loud crash, fell in, destroying several unfortunate beings who were residing there. "'Tis an earthquake!" exclaimed Captain Pinto. "I thought something was about to happen, though it passed my power of calculation to tell what." "Then fly, my friend, and save yourself," cried Senhor Mendez; "for the whole house must inevitably fall, and will crush you in the ruins." "I will see what chance there is first of carrying you on my back," answered the sailor, coolly walking to the window, and looking into the street, from whence the most piercing shrieks proceeded. "'Twill be wiser to stay where we are; for 'tis raining rather large stones from the house-tops, and numbers of poor wretches, who have fled thither, he crushed beneath them." "'Tis a great hazard, but much greater is incurred by remaining here; so, I beseech you, fly, and leave me," reiterated Senhor Mendez. "This is no time for jesting," said the Captain, "or I might suppose you were inclined to be merry. What! do you ask me to leave a brother in danger, when I might save him? No, my friend, I will perish with you, if such is to be our lot,--we are neither of us children to fear death,--or I will preserve your life." Saying which, the captain returned to the side of his friend's couch, and drew the head of it within an alcove formed in the wall. "We shall here be far safer than in the street; for the greater part of the house may fall around without injuring us." In vain Senhor Mendez urged his friend to fly: he persisted in remaining by his side, till he found that words were of no avail. "I will go with you, then," he said. "I have yet strength sufficient to walk to some open space, where the danger will be less." But the captain was resolute; for he well knew that the sick man could not hurry along at the speed which was requisite, nor climb over the impediments they were certain to encounter.