Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-01-02


get our raft across the bay. If Vim
cent and Pence are wise they will
come back at once. We are going t,
have some wind.''
In the southeast murky rainbow
OF clouds extended over quartz,
of the horizon. The crown of thi.
arch reached about 80 degrees aboy,
the sea line. Its upper edges wers
gray, with fecks Of white. Then i,
shaded into a blue, and lower into
band of darker gray. Below i,
was saffron blending into murky
red Mt the horizon. Before Sidney
and Mr.. Kent had reached the raft
the breeze had died away. slowl,
the dun arch climbed the heavens.
1t was three o'clock when the raft
reached the place which had beer
agreed upon. Sidney fred his rife
twice as signal; and both yelled al
the top of their voices. There was
no response, and they both fired, and
again shouted. Sidney climbed ur
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 bathed in an
unearthly reddish-ycllow light. The
trees were motionlcss as if cast in
bronze.
"See how fast the tide is rising!''
exclaimed Mr.. Kent. "You can see
it rise. Look ut that!"
He pointed towards the inlet. A
dark ridge rose out of the lake. On
the opposite shores was moving
line of white.
Jump ashore. It's a 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.
fner 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 vet
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. 1t seemed strange
they did not appear.
The arch was overhead. 1t looked
like mass of whiting snakes. The
moan in the air took a higher key.
The lake was sh-ouded in dark
ening pail.
Sidney felt puff of hot air on
his face. The moan from the sea
became 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 overhanging rock.
And not moment too soon.
The hurricane broke on the island
with a fury which seemed incar-
nate. A tree which had withstood
the storm blasts of generations was
torn from the heights above andwent
whirling across the lake. In mo.
ment it was dark as night.
From where the two men were shell
tered they could judge of the storm
only by the tumult. It came from
the southeast and passed over their
heads. From above there came a
torrent of water and Q shower Of
rocks, stones and logs. 1t did not
seem possible 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 a glare as if the universe
had burst into fame. The hills
seemed to rock in the explosion
which followed. Those who grow
frightened at the puny manifesto.
tons of nature in northern thun.
derst0rm, cannot afford to cayil Of
an apparent extravaganza of Ian
guage essential to word picture OF
q 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 unde,
the ledge of rock; wet and hungry
and sad at heart. The crash of fall.
ing timber, the rumble of tumbling
rocks, the incessant reyerberation OF
thunder, the lashing of the rain, and
the spectacle of sky aflame with
writhing skein of lightning made an
impression on their minds never to
be effaced.
But at five o'clock there was a
lull in the storm. There was q faint
CLEAN of the dawn of day. Nature
mustered her forces for one more
terrific blast. When exhausted, the
light broke through the clouds. A,
by magic the hurricane was over
The wind died to q refreshing
breeze. OF a sudden, the foliage OF
the ridges across the bay was radi
ant with sunshine.
Sidney and Mr.. Kent came from
behind the sheltering rock. They pre-
scented sorry sight. Their duel
suits were strcaked with mud ant
their faces tense and drawn by ex
element and lack of sleep. The,
washed their hands and faces in tn
lake, and then climbed the ridge
where they obtained an unbrokel
view of the bay. To their deligh
they saw the figures of four mel
on the stone pier. Sidney waved hi
hat and was greeted by an answer
ing signal. The people of the bunga
low shouted across the water, an