DROWNED OUT. 



IO7 



you upon all that is terrible and threatening, all 

 looks ghastly and unearthly against the ink-black 

 background; the floodgates of heaven are truly open, 

 for the rain descends like an avalanche. When at 

 its height, the roar of the tempest drowns all other 

 sounds, while rivers of water course over the for- 

 merly dry ground, undermining the drainage gutters 

 you have made, and carrying away before its un- 

 restrainable force everything that is movable. 

 Although the tornado lasted little more than an 

 hour, we were all drowned out, and looked most 

 miserable. Poor Selwin ; I could not help feeling 

 for him, his exposure to the ruthless blasts and 

 scourging rain made my heart bleed ; but, strange as 

 it may appear, it did not affect him as much as 

 could have been anticipated. However, I feared 

 the reaction ; former experience told me that it had 

 to be dreaded. 



The termination of the hurricane was as rapid as 

 its commencement, and, but for the ruin it had left 

 behind, those even who had experienced its violence 

 could scarcely believe that it had taken place. The 

 river is now out in flood, possibly to-morrow it may 

 have subsided sufficiently to be fishable ; if so, I 

 shall try my luck with rod and line. I love the 

 gentle art, whipping a stream with fly for trout or 

 salmon is the poety of recreations, but on the 

 coming occasion I shall have to stoop to the use of 

 bait. Bah ! it is a sad come down from the other 



