The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-08-24


we were near the Sault. got up,
rubbed my eyes. and felt mighty
thrill as | heard the roar of the great
rapids and ths creaking withes, and
felt the lift OF the speeding waters.
D'ri said they rad broken the raft
into three parts. ours being hindmost.
The roaring grew louder, until my
shout was as a whisper IA a hurricane.
The logs began to heave and fall. and
! waves came rushing through them.
Sheets Of spray shot slxyward. coming
down like shower. We were shaken
as by an earthquake In the rough wa
ter. Then the roar fell back Of us, and
the raft grew steady.
Gin us a tough twist" said Dri,
shouting down at me-"kind Nv a twis.
o. the bit n kick n the side"
It was coming daylight as we sailed
into sull water. and then D'ri put his
hands to his mouth and hailed loudly.
getting an answer out of the gloom
ahead.
"Gol-dum ef II hain't the power NV
thousan' paintersl" D'ri continued.
laughing as he spoke. Never see
nothin' jump n kick n spit like thet
air, less It he'd fur on--never n all
my born days"
D'ri's sober face showed dimly now
in the dawn. His hands were on his
hips; his faded felt hat was tipped
sideways. His boots and trousers
were quarreling over that disputed ter
ritory between his knees and ankles
His boots had checked the invasion.
Smooth water now" said he,
thoughtfully. Seems terribly still
Hain't a breath Nv air stirrin'. Jeru-
shy Jane Pepperl Wha' does tibet
mean?"
He stepped aside quickly as some
bits Of bark and small bough Of hem
lock fell at our feet Then a shower
Of pine needles came slowly down,
scattering over US and hitting the tim
Der with a faint hiss. Before we could
look up a dry stick as long as a log
fell rafting on the platform.
Never seen no sech doin's afore."
said D'ri. looking upward. Things
don't seem Z me { be actin eggzacly
4
AS the light came clearer. We saw
clouds heaped black and blue over the
tree-tops In the southwest. We stood
a moment looking. The clouds were
heaping higher. pulsing with light.
roaring with thunder. What seemed TO
be a flock of pigeons rose suddenly
above the far forest, and then fell as
If they had all been shot. A gust of
wind coasted down the still ether. flut-
tering like a rag and shaking out a
few drops Of rain.
Look therel" shouted, pointing
aloft.
"Harkl" said D'ri, sharply, raising
his hand OF three fingers.
We could hear far sound like that
Of a great wagon rumbling on a stony
road
The Almighty's whippin' his bosses"
said D'ri Looks es ef he was plum
gin 'em through the woods way yen
der. Look a thet air sky"
The cloud-masses we're looming rap
idly. They had a glow like that OF
copper.
"Tryin' TO put a ruff on the world"
my companion shouted 'Swingin'
Their hammers hard on the riyets"
A little peak Of green vapor showed
above the skyline. II doomed high as
We looked. II grew into a lofty col
umn. Keeling far above the forest Be
low It we could see a mighy heaving
in the tree-tops. Something like an
immense bird was hurting and pir-
ouetting in the air above them. The
tower Of green looked now like a great
flaring bucket hoped with FIRE and
overlooking with darkness. Our ears
were full Of a mighy voice out OF the
heavens A wind came roaring down
some tideway Of the air like water In
a fiume. II seemed to tap the sky.
Before l could gather my thoughts we
were in torrent of rushing air, and
the raft had begun TO heaye and toss.
I felt D'ri take my hand in his. I
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 fiat, pulling me
down. Above and around all the
noises that ever came to the ear OF
mantle 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 l had never heard and
pray God l may not hear again. one
and then another dominating the
mighty chorus. Behind US, IA the
gloom. could see. or thought l could
see, the reeiing mass Of green plough
ing the water. like a ship with chains
Of gold flashing over bulwarks of fire.
In a moment something happened OF
which l have never had any definite
notion felt the strong arm Of Dri
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 | knew
the raft had doubled; It would fall
and grind our bones: but made no
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