The Irish standard., 1905-02-25

"Hark!" said D'ri, sharply, raising
his hand of three fingers.
We could hear far sound like that
of great wagon rumbling on a stony
road.
''The Almighty's whippin' his hosses,"
said D'ri. Looks es eff he was plum
gin 'em through the woods way yen
der. Look a tibet air sky"
The cloud-masses were looming rap
Idly. They had glow like that of
copper.
"Tryin' to put ruff on the world"
my companion shouted. "Swingin'
Their hammers hard on the rivets."
little peak of green vapor showed
above the skyline. 1t doomed high as
We looked. 1t grew into 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-
Quoting in the air above them. The
tower OF green looked now like great
haring bucket hoped with fire and
overlooking with darkness. Our ears
We're full of mighy voice out of the
heavens. A wind came roaring down
some tideway of the air like water in
a flume. 1t seemed to tap the sky.
Before could gather my thoughts we
were in torrent of rushing air, and
the raft had begun to heave and toss.
felt D'ri take my hand in his. I
il1ct hi fN ho ;~r
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 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 Keeling mass Of green plough
Ing the water, like ship with chains
Of gold flashing over bulwarks of fire.
In moment something happened of
which l 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 I could see nothing. 1 knew
the raft had doubled; it would fall
and grind our bones: but made no
effort to save myself. And thinking
how helpless I felt is the last 1 re-
member of the great windfall of June
5, 1910, the path of which may be seen
now, so years after that memorable
day, and l suppose it will be visible
long after my bones have crumbled.
| thought I had been sleeping when
l came to; at least, l had dreamed.
l was in some place where it was dark
and still. l could hear nothing but the
drip Of water; could feel the arm of
Dri about me, and l called to him,
and then 1 felt him stir.
"Thet you, Ray?" said he, lifting his
head.
Eyes" answered. Where are we?"
Judas Priest! l ain no idee. Jes'
woke up. Been a-layin' here tryin'
t think. Ye hurt?'
Guess not" said 1.
Amt We got no pains or aches no.
where n yer body?"
Head aches a little," said 1.
He rose to his elbow, and made
light with his flint and finder, and
looked at me-
Got a 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 lis t. powder"
We were lying alongside the little
house, and the logs were leaning to 1t
above us.
'Jerushy Jane Pepper!" D'ri ex-
claimed, rising to his kness. "'S whut
call twistcr."
He began to white piece of the
spintercd platform. Then he lit a
shaving.
They s ground here" said he, as he
began to kindle a fire, ground a-plenty
right under us
The freight gave us 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 it's roof was wreck.
Hungry" said D'ri, as he broke
piece of board on his knee.
YES" l answered.
$50 m L." said he, "hungrier n a
she-wolf. Theys some bread m ven'-
son there n the house; we better try
t git EN-"
An opening under The logs let me
around the house corner to its door.
was able to work my way through
the latter although it was choked with
heavy timbers Inside l could hear
the wash OF the river, and through
its shattered window on the farther
wall could see between the heaped
logs a glow Of sunlit water. I handed
our az through a break in the wall,
and then D'ri cut away some of the
base.Dards and Joined me. We had
our meal cooking in few minutes,
our dinner really. for D'ri said it was