St. Landry democrat., 1883-08-25

that threatened them. Looking upward
there was no perceptible motion in the
clouds-the stiffness was painful. The
whole aspect Of the heavens was
changed. Before ascending the incline
to the high ground there was apparent
~ some chance to escape the storm and
reach our destination before it burst
upon us. Now it was too plainly to be
seen that a few moments more and it
would be down upon us with a fearful
force. The moon, nearly at its full,
had sickly glare in its light, as if tim
idity had seized it, and it was scared at
the scene over which it looked. The
horses We're evidently frightened. There
was only one road. and that but a faint
one across the prairie, with, however, a
deeply indented Indian trailu which
we were travelling, the horses ciinging
tenaciously to it.
The horses showed still more fear, and
the quivering of their flesh was plainly
felt through the saddle flaps, and their
snortings, and now frequent pawings.
added Still more to our really unpleas-
ant positions. What if the horses
should break away from us, and the
storm continue all night, and we alone
on the prairie? No efforts on our part
could make the frightened beasts move
from the spot to which they seem riy-
eted with fright. The clouds were by
this time merged into one black hollow,
overhanging the small space Of clear
ground around Us, as if a huge black
cauldron was inverted and descending
to cover us. For several seconds there
was no lightning; the low mutterings of
the thunder seemed more distant, and,
though constant, appeared to be reced-
ing. There was, however, astillness in
our immediate vicinity that was omi-
nous of something impending and to fol-
low, but what? We could not divine.
ALI at once the thunder ceased entire
", and the silence was then truly dread
full to bear. At last flash of bright
and white flame darted across the black
arch hanging over us, Illuminating the
vast dome, but revealing no outlet for
our escape, could we have urged the
horses to move. All was darkness,
dread and quietness. The horses sud-
denly. without perceptible cause,
crowded together, and SO quick was
their action that we were nearly I'M
seated. They kept pressing against
each other, and with such force that
our positions were becoming painful.
Their ears were extended, with their
necks arched, they We're looking intent
" in one direction, and apparently at
one point. The air was getting more
close, and the difficulty in our breath
ing was becoming greater, but still
more awful became the now perfect
stiffness.
:" The beating of our own hearts
Was all the sound we hearh
Again and again, in rapid succession,
flashes of lightning shot athwart the
sky, followed instantly by short claps
of thunder, which evidently was COM
ing nearer to us. Our horses, if posi-
bic, more frightened than before, We're
now crouching so near the ground that
our feet nearly touched. A double
flash Of glare lightning lighted up the
dark vault above us with such brill
liancy that our eyes were, dazzled, and
we had to close them. Still another
burst of lightning came, b1uer and yet
brighter than the former flashes, with
a peal of thunder instantly following,
that seemed to rend the earth beneath
us. The last flash and pealing thunder
was succeeded by another streak of
light, so bright that everything near us
was. made plain as MONDAY, and re-
vealed the doctor with his hands
pressed together as if in prayer. and,
when the quiet followed, the words:
/" From lightning and tempest and from
sudden death, good Lord, deliver us, =
were plainly heard. as | was listening
intently to catch any syllable that might
fall from his lips.
a moment or two more of stiffness
followed, when there was an opening
in the gloomy darkness, and from
thence came burst of flame, neither
white, nor blue. nor any color we had
ever seen. It was really horr.d, chill
ingly, dreadfully depressing and
frightful. 1t was evident that the
horses were sinking under the fright
they had so long felt. Their limbs
trembled under them, and the CULVER
ings of the poor beasts impaired a
trembling to their riders. We both no.
ticed how they invariably looked
toward one point of the compass,
seeming to strain every nerve to catch
sight OF something, as if led to do so
by instinct. Suddenly the doctor
grabbed my arm, and yelled out with
piercing shrek that startled the
horses as well as myself. s.See! Good
God, what is that?'
Far off to the northwest, and high up
in the dome that now appeared larger
than ever, was small blue speck, alone
in the deep black darkness. It seemed
like a star, yet 50 intensely blue that the
eye became dazzled in an instant, and
the sight had to be averted, unable to
stand the gaze. We both turned our
heads away at the same moment.