Willmar tribune., 1905-04-12
''Hark!" said D'rl, sharply. raising

We cOul2 hear a far sound like that
Of a great wagsn rumbling on st1ny
road.
''The Almighty's whippin' his hosses,"
said D'rl. ''Looks es ef. he was plum
gin 'em through the woods way yen-
der. Look a thet air sky.''
The cloud-masses were looming rap
idly. They had glow like that of
copper.
"Tryin' to put ruf on the world,'
my companion shouted. "Swingin'
ther hammers hard on the rivets."
A little peak of green vapor showed
above the skyline. 1t loomed high as
we looked. 1t grew into a lofty COL
umn, reeling far above the forest. Be-
low it We could see mighy heaving
in the tree-tops. Something like an
immense bird was hurtling and pir~
Ouetting in the air above them. The
tower OF green looked now like a great
overtlowing with darkness. Our ears
were full OF a mishy voice out of the
heavens. A wind came roaring down
some tideway OF the air like water in
ttume. 1t seemed to tap the sky.
Before could gather my thoughts we
were in a torrent of rushing air, and
the raft had begun to heave and toss.
l felt D'ri take my hand in his. l
could just see his face. for the morning
had turned dark suddenly. His lips
were moving. but could hear nothing
he said. Then he lay flat, pulling me
down. Above and around all the
noises that ever came to the ear OF
man-the beating of drums, the below
ing of cattle, the crash Of falling trees,
the shrek Of women, the rattle of ma
chinery, the roar Of waters, the crack
of rifles, the blowing of trumpets, the
braying of asses, and sounds of the
like of which I had never heard and
pray God may not hear again, one
and then another dominating the
mighty chorus. Behind us, in the
gloom, could see, or thought could
see, the reeling mass of green plough
ing the water, like ship with chains
Of gold flashing over bulwarks of fire.
In moment something happened OF
which have never had any definite
notion. I felt the strong arm of D'ri
clasping me tightly. heard the thump
and roll and rattle of logs heaping
above us; felt the water washing over
me; but could see nothing. I knew
the taft had doubled; it would fall
and grind our bones: but I made no
effort to save myself. And thinking
how helpless / felt is the last re-
member Of the great windfall of June
5, 1910, tho path of which may be seen
now, SO years after that memorable
day, and suppose it will be visible
long after my bones have crumbled
[ thought had been sleeping when
1 came to; at least, l had dreamed.
| was in some place where it was dark
and still. could hear nothing but the
drip Of water; could feel the arm of
D'ri about me, and l called to him.
and then l felt him stir.
"Thet you, Ray?" said he, lifting his
head.
"Yes,' answered. Where are we?"
Judas Priest! I ain no idee. Jes'
woke up. Been a-layin' here tryin'
t think. Ye hurt?"
Guess not" said I.
"Aint We got no pains or aches no.
where n yer body?"
Head aches a little," said l.
He rose to his elbow, and made a
light with his flint and tinder, and
looked at me.
Got goose-egg on yer for'ard,"
said he, and then l saw there was
blood on his face.
EFF it he'd MT been fer the withes
they d "a ground us t. powder"
We were lying alongside the little
house, and the logs were leaning to it
above lis.
"Jerushy Jane Pepper!" D'ri ex-
claimed, rising to his lzness. rs whut
I call a twister.''
He began to whittle piece of the
splintered platform. Then he lit a
shaving
''They s ground here" said he, as he
began to kindle fire, ground a-plenty
right under u.s."
The freight gave us a good look
at our cave under the logs. 1t was
about 10 feet long and probably as
high. The logs had crashed through
the side of the house in one or two
places, and its roof was wreck.
"Hungry?" said D'ri, as he broke
piece of board on his knee.
Eyes, answered.
so m l." said he, "hungrier n
she-wolf. They's some bread m yen'-
son there n the house; we better try
t. git EN-
An opening under the logs let me
around the house corner to it's door.
I was able to work my way through
the latter, although it was choked with
heavy timbers. Inside I could hear
the wash Of the river, and through
it's shattered window on the farther
wall I could see between the heaped
logs glow Of sunlit water. / handed
our ak through a break in the wall,
and then D'ri cut away some of the
baseboards and Joined me. We had
our meal cooking in few minutes
our dinner, really, for D'ri said it was
near noon. Having eaten, we crawled
out of the window, and then D'ri be-
gan to pry the logs apart.
"Ain't much 'fraid o. their tumblin'
on u.s." said he. "They re withcd so
they IL stick together"
We got to another cave under the
logs, at the waters edge, after an hour
of crawling and prying. A side of the
raft was in the water.