The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-03-02

spot looked too inviting, and they were
both soon engaged in raising rough shell
ter for that night at least, which could af-
ford there refuge against the collecting storm.
Under such good hands the work was easi-
ly accomplished, and the next half hour,
found both under their quickly erected roof,
watching the pieces Of meat broiling on the
| fire. So 81 'r ~
ITS strange how cold it has suddenly turn
ed,' Tom at lengh broke the silence; only
look, the water in the tin pan Is frozen quite
hard, the wind has chopped round to
the northeast !; it blows confoundedly sharp
too a''s 8" q. ..' - - =
Let. it blow Bill yawned, as he wrapped
himself closely in the folds Of his blauket; i
am tired, and want to sleep, Tom. Lay q
couple Of boughs on the fire before YOU turn
in, and the one first awake to- morrow must
rouse the other ffA-' ."h ...'I .r
Midnight was past, and the fire had near
! ly expired, but the two brothers slept FIRMLY
and the icy north wind that howlel over the
snowclad hills into, the valley, ,rouilnot disturb
their slumber. Heavy masses OF clouds had
however, collected together from various
quarters darkly threatening they brooded
over the rlistling forest, and the stately trees
shook and bowed their leaHess branches, as
if in timid forebodings of the approaching
storm. A bright fash of lightning sud-
denly burst from the black heavens, and
a terrific peal of thunder almost instantane-
ously followed the messenger of destruction
One Of the terrible winter storms was impen-
ding, and the unclaimed hurricane howled
and tore through the narrow mountain r,-
vines. ..".'.s as-.#.
Bill! cried Tom, springing up in horror
Bill, get up I've dare not lie down :: see
how the old ttees culver; and do YOU hear,
there'sone of them cracking 2 g.,
'Hallog' Bill replied, as be quickly threw
off his blanket, has it caught us Iii Tom,
lay hold of the roof I'm blessed if the con.
founded Northwestern won't take it along
with it, ,t .-.. sr..t y. 81
His fear was not entirely unfounded, for
at the same instant such furious blast burst
from the opposite valley that it half mIcov
cred their resting-pace in a second, aud hurn-
ing ashes and sparks were carried far away
into the gloom Of night. Il lightning flash
again burst forth from the clouds, and the
thunder deadened the sound of the bowling
Storm. Then it suddenly seemed as il tie
whole earth were torn from lis foundations /;
far, far away Oh it came !; ut first indistnct-
! ly with hollow SQUAD, like the crash of a
thousand cannons then nearer and nearer il
roared, spreading wild and terrible overthrow
and narrowing desolation around 80
Almighty God, hurricane T. Tom cried,
starting up in terror, for at the same moment
the storm reached them. The giant trunks,
which had withstood centuries, bowed like
thin twigs, aud with one blow, that struck
terror to the heart of the listeners. the whole
forest was mown level with the earth by the
hand OF the Almighty. H.
The hurricane ragged further and further
with frightful velocity; for miles around it
overthrow the tall oaks. and hurled them ike
reeds to the ground for miles AROUND il mark
ed its path with desolation and destruction !;
but silence. gravc-like silence, followed in its
/ track, and rested over the widely-scattered
trees not a breath was stirring aud the CAIN
ness of death, after this horrying outbreak
Of the elements, affected the poor heart of a
mortal with q more agoniziug shudder than
i had felt even in the most terrible fury of
! the storm. a., 80.
Biil had miraculously escaped, without
evel. the slightest injury, clinging tightly to
an immense tree that had previously fallen !;
another oak that fell across it only served to
save him, rs it guarded him the other con
tinually falling branches and smaller trees :;
but now, as soon as the first most pressing
danger was passed, he jumped up and cried,
filled with terror, to bis brother:
| 'Tom-brother Tom--do answer, Tom.
Great God has such terrible end fallen to
your share
Eoi il would have been wel! Coz Kim if
that had been his lot /; lie still lived, aud his
weak voice, at no great distance, struck the
hunters attentive ear.
| .All-iDercifu Heavens. . the latter cried,
when he had quickly leapci over couple
of trees lying in The way, and, with blazing
Pine.torch in his hand, stood before him he
sought
! All.mcrciful Heavens ? lie repeated In al
most maddening agony and covered his face
with his hands, for close to him, pale rs a
corpse, with both his thighs buried be-
meath IN immense oak which was shattered
from top to bottom, lsy his Tom, his broth.
er, the playmate Of his youth, the darling Of
his heart
ITS very cold the unhappy man whis-
pered, and looked apipploringly to the hun
] ter, who, apparently incapable Of any furth-