I remember that once in our childhood we were by the sea--I cannot tell
in what country we were, nor what sea it was--and our English governess
took us out one morning on the beach to see a tidal wave.
"What is a tidal wave, Miss Williams?" we inquired.
"Two or three immense waves which only come once a year," replied the
sibylline Miss Williams. "Now keep quiet and look."
We kept quiet and looked. And presently we thought we could see a huge
wave, larger than all the others, coming towards us from the horizon.
"Look! Look there! It is the tidal wave!"
"No," said Miss Williams. "That is not it."
And, indeed, presently there appeared a wave which was greater still--it
reared its crest, towered aloft, and fell.
"That was it! That was it!"
But still farther away, on the line of the horizon, a mighty wave--a
veritable wall of water--was approaching, formidable, gigantic,
fabulous....