Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-05-14

As he spoke another food of anne,
thys,,Ie light filled the wood. followed
by another and yet another, so close
that it seemed 10 fall in lambert sheets
of flame upon the snow Then il was
as though the very elements had burst
in one fell crash straight overhead 1t
was deafenins and stunned them for
time.
God have mercy on u.s." said MIR.
Marin, in a shaking voice, md as NJ
spoke another flash. red as blood. re
vealed Pierre in the act OF crossing
himself
Il am not generally afraid in a
thunderstorm" said Alec. but feel
quite nervous and broken up; cant
control myself, somehow feel all
shaken and limp"
so am |. Feel my hands how obey
shake. And II is rot fear OF anything
happening to us-it is a oh
Three Irishtful flashes in swift sue.
ceSsion literally enveloped them; they
could not see for several seconds after
ward; it was relief to hear the crack
ling and hurting and rolling of the
thunder again.
1T is wonderful! Something grand.
l wouldn have missed this for any
if my bones were melted within me;
am limp. all the pith has gone out OF
me"
1T ees re electricity" explained
Pierre. who was not at all affected like
his companions. re white man feel
so first two tree times he catch light
ming storm After he not feel re eIec-
tricity 50.
II hope this rain wont affect the ice
any, said Alec. II must get over to
that village by tomorrow night at lat
est"
IF re wind not rise" SAID Pierre,
obviously,
Rise or not, we must try, Besides,
our provisions will be out we must
GOT
The thunder Chaps became fewer and
further off, although the electrical
flames still fell and played necessarily,
weirdly Illuminating the somber black
and white vistas of the wood; but once
more during a pause a vivid, binding
zig2ag line of molten fire cleft The
darkness there was a report as of
hundred cannon and before they could
recover breath, huge tree, not a
stones throw from where they sat. fell
crashing to the earth,
No one spoke. A grim sense of the
immediate possibilities pressed heavily
upon father and son. Pierre himself,
in spite of his long experience, began
to feel shaky and uneasy; the Great
Spirit of his Indian mother was abroad
tonight; his faith in the efficacy OF the
sign of the cross had weakened.
But the storm had shot its last bolt,
the thunder rolled away off into re
mote distance, the electric play slowly
ceased and only the gentle downpour
of the rain disturbed the peace of the
forest
ct ees over" said Pierre, in tone
of relief.
Yes, thank God, said Alec, and Mr..
Marin said solemnly, Amen" adding;
Let us try to get some sleep now.
feel perfectly Frustrated.
80 do |, said Alcc. "Who would
have expected an electrical storm at
this time of the year,
Il ncyiare see sCCCh at ices time, but
! hat been told of zc big Apreel light
ming so long time ago, said Pierre,
1t was nigh dawn before either fell
asleep and when they awoke the sun
was high overhead. Alec was the first
to awake and he shook Pierre withou
mercy.
Hustle. man, and get breakfast,
We ought to have been miles over the
ice by This time Hurry up
But ii was easier saying than doing
in the way of getting a fire made from
damp wood and Pierre spake words no.
set down in the dictionary, when in
search of drier scraps he sank knee
deep in great troughs of snow slush.
Never mind, Pierre, We can eat
what is left of the pemmcan with a
biscuit or two; we can DO without tea
for one morning. Well keep il till we
get over to the reserve. Will that
do?" He turned 10 his father as he
spoke and Mr.. Marin. not to be outdone,
cried
Certainly, certainly; We ought to be
thankful we are alive after last nights
experience"
In another quarter Of an hour they
were wading through the wet snow
that lay upon the ice Of the lake. sod
den and melted with last nights rain
anf ~apidly turning to water under the
sunshine Of blue and cloudless sky
The air was warm, the unaccustomed
pack had become a burden TO Mr.
Marin and his son, impeled by the de
sire TO 20 on paid but little attention
TO Piorres countenancc, which, as he
looked ahead began 10 be troubled
They We're already some six or more
miles across when he uttered an ex-
clamation Of dismay which caused
them to halt and look in the direction
of his outstretched finger