"Fo' de land sakes!" cried Eradicate. "What am de mattah now,
Massa Tom?"
"Earthquake coming," answered Tom, briefly. "Better get away
from the buildings, Rad. They might fall!" Tom's face showed the
alarm he felt. What would happen to all of his valuable
machines--to the Red Cloud?
"Earthquake?" murmured Eradicate, and he, too, cast himself
down to listen. A moment later he arose with a laugh.
"What's the matter?" cried Tom.
"Why, dat ain't no earthquake!" declared the colored man.
"No. Then perhaps you know what it is," said Mr. Parker,
somewhat sharply.
"Course I knows what it am," answered Eradicate, with dignity.
"Dat noise am my mule Boomerang, kickin' in his stable, on
account oh me not feedin' him yet. Dat's what it am. I'se gwine
right now t' gib him his oats, and den yo' see dat de noise stop.
Boomerang allers kick dat way when he's hungry. I show yo'!"
And, sure enough, when Eradicate had gone to the mule's stable,
which was near where Mr. Parker had heard the mysterious sounds,
they immediately ceased.
"Dat mule was all de earthquake dere was around here," said the
colored man as he came out.
Mr. Parker walked away, saying nothing, and Tom did not make
any comments--just then.
CHAPTER VIII--OFF FOR THE WEST
It was a great relief to Tom, to find that there was no danger
from an earth tremor.
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