Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-06-04

box to relight the fallen. lamp, and
so we had to endure blindly what
was dealt out to us The waves tossed
us in merciless sport, and 1 chung on
by the side of Nais, holding her to
the bed. We did not speak much, but
there was full companionship in our
bereavement and our silence.
When Atlantis sank to form new
ocean-bed, she left great whirlpools
and spoutings from her drowned fires
as feeting legacy to the gods Of
the sea. And then, I think Though
in the black belly of the ark we
could not see these things), a vast
hurricane of wind must have come
on next so as to leave no piece of the
desolation incomplete. For seven
nights and seven days did this dread
full turmoil continue, as counted for
us afterwards by the reckoner of
hours which hung within the ark, and
then the bowling of the wind depart
ed, and only the roll of a long still
swell remained. It was regular and
it was oily, as could tell by the diff
ference of the motion, and then for
the first time I dared to go up the
stair and open and found the gate they
bit against was deserted.
The sweet salt air came gushing
down to freshen the foulness within,
and as the ark rode dryly over the
seas, I went below and brought up
Nais to gain refreshment from the
curing rays of our Lord the Sun. Duly
the pair of US adored him, and gave
thanks for his great mercy in COM
ing to light another day, and then we
laid ourselves down where we were
to doze, and take that easy rest which
we so urgently needed.
Yet, though I was tired beyond
words, for long enough sleep would
not visit me. YEARLY / stared out over
the oily sun-lit waters. No blur of
land met the eye. The ring of ocean
was unbroken on every side, and over
head the vault of heaven remained I'M
changed. The bosom of the deep was
Uttered with the poor wreckage of
Atlantis, to remind one, if there had
been a need, that what had come
about was fact, and not some horrid
dream. Trees, squared timber, a
smashed and upturned boat of hides,
and here and there the rounded corpse
of a man or beast shouldered over the
swells, and kept convoy with our ark
as she drifted on in charge of the gods
and the current.
But sleep came to me at last, and I
dropped off into unconsciousness,
holding the hand of Nais in mine, and
when next I woke found her open
eyed also and watching me tenderly.
We were finely rested, both of us, and
rest and strength bring one compla-
| cency. We were more ready now to
accept the station which the high gods
had made for us without repining,
and so we went below again into the
belly of the ark to eat and drink and
maintain strength for the new life
which lay before us.
A wonderful vessel was this ark,
now we were able to see it at leisure
and intimately. Although for the first
time now in all it's centuries of life
it swan upon the waters, it showed no
leak or sun-crack. Inside, even it's
| floor was bone-dry. That it was built
| from some wood, one could see by the
| grainings, but nowhere could one find
suture or joint. The living timbers
| had been put in place and then grown
together by an art which we have lost
| to-day, but which the ancients knew
with much perfection; and afterwards
some treatment, which is also a Sc