358 PHILOSOPHY OF STORMS. 



was formed, extended up to the hill of Chatenay, and ap- 

 peared then stationary, and about to resolve themselves in 

 rain to the west. But at midday a second storm appeared, 

 whose clouds, less elevated than those of the former, moved 

 rapidly and advanced towards the hill. These clouds hav- 

 ing arrived at the extremity of the great plain of Fontenay, 

 in presence of those which were then over Chatenay, relax- 

 ed in their march, and a sort of combat seemed to take 

 place between the first and second storm, and one could not 

 foresee which would carry the day, nor what direction the 

 last arrived clouds would take. Many inhabitants observed 

 this combat with a curiosity mingled with anxiety, not 

 knowing to what to attribute so singular a perturbation. 

 We mention, among others, Mr. Dutour, an intelligent man, 

 and admirably placed to make this observation, Mr. Robi- 

 net, the elder, and Madam Bulot, of Fontenay. A great 

 agitation then manifested itself, in the intermediate parts, 

 and the thunder rolled violently, when all at once the clouds 

 of the second storm lowered themselves towards the earth, 

 and put themselves in communication with it. At this in- 

 stant the thunder appeared to cease, and there arose a 

 frightful whirlwind of dust and of light bodies, with an 

 extraordinary and confused rolling. A shepherd, named 

 Olivier, was in the avenue of Pontoise, very near the place 

 where the spout was formed. The storm, said he, descend- 

 ed and approached the earth ; some of the clouds were de- 

 tached from others, and formed a whirlwind. Among the 

 clouds there was a little one which did not follow the march 

 of the others ; it came directly towards me ; then all at 

 once it returned on the other side, rose up and disap- 

 peared. The inferior cloud of the storm was very low, 

 almost on my head, and so thick that I could not see at 

 some steps ; at the moment of its descent I heard a loud 

 clap of thunder, and this was the last, for after this there 

 was nothing but a rolling and continual trembling. 



