four o'clock
Louise chose to lie in her berth and await events with calm resignation . If they escaped she would not look haggard and hollow-eyed when morning came . If a catastrophy was pending she would have no power to prevent it . It was four o'clock on Sunday morning when Vesuvius finally reached the climax of her travail . With a deep groan of anguish the mountain burst asunder , and from its side rolled a great stream of molten lava that slowly spread down the slope , consuming trees , vineyards and dwellings in its path and overwhelming the fated city of Bosco-Trecase . Our friends marked the course of destruction by watching the thread of fire slowly wander down the mountain slope . They did not know of the desolation it was causing , but the sight was terrible enough to inspire awe in every breast .