420 A THUNDER-STORM. 



by way of Flag Channel, some dozen miles, and are in full 

 sight of the neat white group of buildings, when all sud- 

 denly a tempest sweeps across the bay. In the heavens 

 above the storm-forces are marshalled in terrible array; the 

 troubled waves reflect the inky blackness of the sky; the 

 blinding lightnings quiver along the sombre crests of the 

 low clouds; the sonorous peals of thunder echo from the 

 clouds and the mountains; the rain falls in torrents, lash- 

 ing the angry billows into a white foam. Our heavily- 

 loaded boat rocks dangerously in great troughs of this 

 surging sea, and the waters dash over us from bow to 

 stern. Pointing our boat to leeward, we drive swiftly 

 toward a small island some half mile away. We reach it in 

 safety, but the rain has run through every thread of our 

 clothing and filled our boots. 



After an hour or more the rain subsides, but the wind 

 continues, and we are obliged to set up our tent for the 

 night. In due time our canvas house, thickly overshadowed 

 by the trees, is ready for lodging, and we are preparing a 

 comfortable evening meal over that convenient tenting 

 appurtenance — a kerosene stove. The ground is thoroughly 

 saturated, but by the aid of plenty of spruce boughs our 

 bedding is kept dry, and we sleep a dreamless sleep, amid 

 the hoarse tones of waves and breakers. On awaking in 

 the morning, I detect the sun-light through the trees, and 

 turning towards my nearest comrade, spy a toad sitting 

 placidly on his rosy cheek. As I send the reptile sprawling 

 on the ground, the eyes of my friend open wider than 

 usual at the sight of its upturned under parts; and those 

 facial muscles, which, under certain emotions, raise the 

 corners of the mouth, shorten the cheeks and fashion a cir- 

 cle of cheerful wrinkles about the eyes, work with peculiar 

 effect. 



