A THUNDER-STORM IN THE ROCKIES 



and there is an ever-present risk of being struck. Dick's 

 expression told me how great was our danger. He was 

 a man whom it was difficult to disturb ; but no man, 

 however brave he is, likes a peril against which he 

 himself can do nothing. Afterwards he told me that 

 a good many people had been killed by lightning on 

 that range. 



The storm was all over by the time we reached the 

 river and the sun was once more shining brilliantly, 

 but to our dismay we found that the Yellowstone was in 

 flood. Evidently a waterspout had burst somewhere 

 higher up the valley. Still, we had to get on, for all 

 our foodstuffs were on the other bank in the cart. 

 Moreover, we had to cross at this point, the nearest 

 bridge being thirty miles away. So we made the best 

 of a bad job, and turned our horses' heads towards the 

 water. We were just leaving the bank when a most 

 extraordinary flash of lightning struck the stream a bare 

 fifty yards from us, coming out of a perfectly clear sky 

 without the slightest warning. It was a nasty reminder 

 of what might happen at any moment. 



Two days before we had crossed that ford with 

 the greatest ease, with clear water swirling round the 

 horses' legs. Now there was muddy water up to our 

 horses' necks, and the brave Httle animals had to fight 

 every foot of the way. Before I had gone far I 

 discovered that the only safe plan was to keep my eyes 

 fixed steadily on the opposite bank and concentrate 



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