218 CRUSOE'S ISLAND. 



I remember how strangely oppressive the air was 

 in the morning, and — 



** As the hot day swooned into afternoon, 

 Hotter and hotter grew the air, and soon 

 All the northwestern space of sky became 

 Heavy, metallic, where the heat did flame 

 In quivering bronze, and the sea grew changed. 

 Though moveless still, as though dark rivers ranged 

 Purple and green and black throughout its deeps ; 

 At times, as shudders come o'er one who sleeps 

 And dreams of something evil, swiftly flew 

 Across its face a chill that changed the blue 

 To a sheet of beaten silver ; then again 

 It slept on as before, but as in pain." 



Even as Crusoe describes the coming of the hurri- 

 cane, so came that storm upon us — with a warning 

 calm that, but for its oppressiveness, would have been 

 no warning. But my Friday knew all the premoni- 

 tory symptoms of the hurricane's advent, and has- 

 tened to make everything snug and close before it 

 struck us. A night only, it lasted, and barely that ; 

 but what havoc it wrought, what hopes of mine it 

 blasted with a breath ! Our hilltop house was un- 

 roofed early in the gale, and for six or eight hours we 

 were exposed to a pelting rain ; two of my palms 

 were beheaded, and all the rest denuded of their 

 leaves — those graceful leaves, with which they used 

 to fan the still air at noon, and extend a protecting 

 canopy above my head. 



The hut at the beach was entirely swept away, 

 but fortunately all our provisions had been brought 

 to the Hilltop, and that night my Friday stayed there 



