She asked me if I had made any jokes just at the time of the catastrophe

I was obliged to admit that I had made a joke to myself

although I did not make the joke aloud

this was the joke I was thinking to myself:

I was thinking about the waterfalls

"How wonderful it is to see that vast body of water tumble down there!"

Then in an instant a bright thought flashed into my head

"It would be a great deal more wonderful to see the water tumble up the waterfall!"

I was just about to die from laughing when all nature broke loose

and I had to flee for my life

"now you see" she said triumphantly

"the Serpent mentioned that very jest"

"he called it the First Chestnut"

"and he said it was coeval with the creation"

Alas, I am indeed to blame

I wish that I were not so witty