Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-08-27

! StiU they managed TO maintain their
place.
osity as they gazed about and saw by
the fitful CLEAN of the lightning some
thing of the awful scene around. AL
though but few moments had elapsed
they seemed to be far away from their
| former standpoint. The waters were
swelling up visibly, and they raced
faster and faster. and the crashing and
grinding Of the floating trees all around
and beneath them were terrible. Fortu-
nately that on which they were now
borne was one Of great size and rode
| high over those Immediately about
them, although, as Oswald saw with a
| shudder, some of these floating trees
actually rubbed off their branches and
then turned round and round amid the
foaming waters
Still they managed to maintain their
place pretty well in the fork Of their
sylvan ark, and to their great relief first
the pelting rain ceased quite abruptly
and then the lightning. Darkness how
ever, thick and impenetrable, had wrap
ped them round. Although the rush of
the waters on which they were borne
seemed to be growing less rapid, both
felt an indescribable terror at the in
tense darkness which, at such q tipe
and In such a situation, seemed like de-
struction itself.
AS usual in cases of these terrific in
undations the depth of the food varied
greatly, and as they were swept on by
the Tremendous currents, ever and anon
they felt shock as the great tree would
partially ground or be caught by some
obstruction, and twice on these dreadful
occasions they gave themselves up for
lost as the waters swept right over them
and would have washed them off but
for the tenacity with which both clung
to the protecting fork of the tree.
At times, however, they were in equal
peril from the amazing rapidity where
with they were hurried along, doubtless
in tracts Of country where the land fell
away sharply, over which the food
swept like q cascade.
At last day came and strange and
mournful sight met their eyes. Their
preserving tree had grounded at length.
and here the water was comparatively
shallow and had little or no current,
but afar they could see great bodies of
storm water pouring over hillsides and
vast lakes were glittering in the rising
sun, while from the whole country there
went up steam Of moist heat Marks
Of wreck and ruin on the face of nature
Were everywhere apparent In places
were immense piles of trees that had
been dashed by the force of the food into
one terrible tangle. and in many places
they could be seen where the declivities
had been denuded of all surface earth
| and the growth therein, leaving the land
bare and stripped Of IT'S beauty. Animal
life seemed quite absent, and not bird
could be seen, nor an insect, while SO
far as their view extended not tree
was standing
Oswald and Emily looked at each
other in utter dismay, Now, indeed.
they Were lost, for not landmark re-
mained to indicate their whereabouts,
and they had lost all but the clothes
they had on, and these were torn and
spoiled by the water, while Emily had
only half skirt to her sand and mud
incrusted dress
"Quite an Adam and Eve affair" re.
marked Oswald, smiling in spite Of the
apprehension which now crowded on
his breast
Quite an affair of savages, " said
Emily, wringing out her Dress "fol
that's the state to which we have come
now"
They stepped down from their sylvan
ark and waded through two or three
feet of water to dry hillock they per,
ceived little way off. The power Of
the tropical sun was here manifested,
Cor the surface was dry, and both threw
CA9ToRIA.
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