Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-16

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 there!" I shouted. pointing
aloft.
"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 Almishty's whipbin' his hosses,"
said D'ri. Looks es ef 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
"Tryn' to put ruff on the world
my companion shouted. "Swingin'
Their hammers hard on the rivets."
A little peak of green vapor showed
above the skyline. 1t doomed high as
We looked. II grew into lofty col
umn, Keeling far above the forest. Be-
low it we could see 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 great
haring bucket hOoped with fire and
overfiowing with darkness. Our ears
were full OF mighy voice out of the
heavens A wind came roaring down
some tideway of the air like water in
a fume. 1t seemed to tap the sky.
Before l 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. |
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 thai 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, I could sec, or thought l could
see, the reeling 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
whit l have never had any definite
notion. felt the strong arm of DR.
clasping me tightly. heard the thumI
and roll and rattle of logs heapins
above us; felt the water washing over
me; Out ! could see nothing. l knew
the raft had doubled it would fal
and grind our bones: but | made M
effort to save myself. And thinking
how helpless felt is the last l re
member of the great windfall of June
5, 1910, the path of which may be seer
now, so years after that memorable
day. and l suppose it will be visible
long after my bones have crumbled
thought l had been sleeping wher
7 came to: al least. had dreamed
was in some place where it was darl
and still. could hear nothing but thu
drip Of water; could feel the arm Of
Dri about me, and l called to him
and then l felt MIN stir.
Tibet you. Ray?" said he, lifting hi
head.
Yes" l answered. Where are We?
Judas Priest! l ain no idee. Jes
woke up. Been a-layin' here tryir
t think. Ye hurt?"
Guess not" said /.
Amt ye got no pains or aches NO
where n yer body?'
Head aches little said l.
He rose to his elbow, and made
light with his flint and finder, an
looked at me.
Got goose-egg on yer ard,
said he, and then | saw there wa
blood on his face.
'Ef it he'd Mt been Ter the withe
they d "a ground us L powder"
We were lying alongside the littl
house, and the logs were leaning to
above US.
"Jerushy Jane Pepper" D'ri ex
claimed, rising to his kness. IS whu
call twister.''
/ He began TO white a piece of tn
splintered platform. Then he lit
shaving.
They S ground here" said he, as h
began to kindle fire, ground a-plent
right under us"
The freight gave us good loo
at our cave under the logs 1t wa
about 10 feet long and probably a
high. The logs had crashed throug
the side oi the house in one or tw
places, and its roof was wreck
"Hungry?' said Dri, as he broke
piece of board on his knee.
Yes" answered.
$50 m l." said he. "hnnerier n
she-wolf. They's some bread m ven
son there n the house; we better tr
t. git EN-"
An opening under The logs let nj
around the house corner to its dool
was able to work my way throug
the latter, although 1t was choked wit
heavy timbers. Inside ! could hea
the wash of the river. and throug
It's shattered window on the farthe
wall | could see between the heape
logs a glow of sunlit water. handle
our AK through break in the wal
and then Dri cut away some OF tn
baseboards and Joined me. We ha
our meal cooking in a few minutes