Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-30


beat him. Let's be moving"
They made their way along the
edge of the cliffs for perhaps half a
mile, but could go no further. Re
tracing their steps. they again stood
On the rock over cooking "Morton's
Bay" and the ocean.
At the same moment both gave
an exclamation and pointed out to
sea. The upper rigging of ship
showed clear on the eastern horizon
but she was huh down on the waste
of waters. For half an hour they
gaZed at the dim outlines of maSts
and sails.
"She is fully rs miles away" said
Sidney, as he gazed longingy at the
disappearing vessel. 1--WE must erect
a signal from some point like this,
ana keep man on watch during the
day. If one ship passes more are
likely to, and some may come near
enough to see and understand our
signal"
Look at those Clouds" said Mr..
Kent. There comes your storm.
What time is it?''
Half past two. Those are remark
able looking clouds. never saw
anything like them before. Let us
get our raft across the bay. If Vim
cent and Pence are wise they will
come back at once. We are going to
have some wind"
In the southeast q murky rainbow
of clouds extended over a quarter
of the horizon. The crown of this
arch reached about 30 degrees above
the sea line. Its upper edges were
gray. with fecks of white. Then it
shaded into a brue. and lower into
band of darker gray. Below it
was saffron blending into a murl<y
red at the horizon. Before Sidney
and Mr.. Kent had reached the raft.
| the breeze had died away. Slowly
! the dun arch climbed the heavens.
II was three o'clock when the raft
reached the place which had been
agreed upon. Sidney fired his rifle
| twice as Il signal: and both yelled at
the top of their voices. There was
no response, and they both fired, and
again shouted. Sidney climbed mp
the rocks. He called repeatedly,
but there was no reply.
There was moaning sound in the
air which seemed to come from the
sea. Everything was bathcd in an
rnearthly reddish-yellow light. The
trees were motionless as if cast in
bronze.
See how fast the tide is rsing."
exclaimed Mr.. Kent. "lou can see
it rise. Look at that"
lie pointed towards the inlet. A
dark ridge rose out of the lake On
the opposite shores was a moving
line of white.
Jump ashore. It's tidal bore."
cried Sidney. The wave came roll
ing towards them like the smooth
pillows in the wake of steamship.
1t lost its force as the lake widened,
but it was strong enough to ham
1ner the raft against the rocks. They
pulled the raft as high on the beach
as they could. The water rose at the
rate of foot minute. The roar
of the surf beyond the cliffs was
like the sullen thunder. And as yet
not breath of air.
Across the bay they saw men on
the stone deck reckoning them TO
return. 1t was half-past three
O'Clock. They had promised to have
the raft on the south shore at five.
Both agreed that they must wait for
Vincent and Pence. Ii seemed strange
they did not appear.
The arch was overhead. 1t looked
like mass of writing snakes. The
moan in the air took higher key.
The lake was shrouded in u dark
ening pail.
Sidney felt "A puff of hot air on
his face. The moan from the sea
became a roar. Three hundred feet
above, the crown of palm tree
bowed to the west
This way, Mr.. Kent" shouted
Sidney. He grabbed the Older man
by the arm and they dashed to the
shelter of an ovcrhanging rock.
And not a moment too soon.
The hurricane broke on the island
with fury which seemed incar-
nate. a tree which had withstood
the storm blasts of generations was
torn from the heights above and went
whirling across the lake. In a mo-
ment it was dark as night.
From where the two men were shcl-
tered they could Judge of the storm
only by the tumult. 1t came from
the southeast and passed over their
heads. From above there came IN
torrent Of water and shower of
rocks, stones and logs. 1t did not
seem possible "a human being could
survive such storm for a minute.
There were occasional flashes of
light. The sky became tremulous
with its sickening flicker. Gradu-
ally this became more intense. Then
there was glare as if the universe
had burst into flame. The hills
seemed to rock in the explosion
which followed. Those who grow
frightened at the puny manifesta-
tions of nature i'll a northern thun-
dcrstorm, cannot afford to cavil at
an apparent extravaganza of lam
Guage essential to IA word picture of
"A tropical hurricane.
As night came on the storm in
creased in fury. They gave Vim
cent and Pence up as lost and never
expected to see them alive again.
All night long they crouched under
the ledge of rock; wet and hungry
and sad at heart. The crash of fall