238 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNsEUS 



and then an explosion would be heard from a newly 

 lighted flame, and each explosion brought down a burst 

 of rain. They listened for thunder, but only cracking 

 reports were heard, no long thunder-rolls. All at once 

 the great mountain mass of the Slerol Stadet stood out 

 black and terrific against a background of blue flame, 

 and meteoric stones shot hissing into the pools of the 

 marshes. ' Is it the Aurora Borealis ? ' whispered one of 

 the young Keuterholms they had all gathered round 

 Linnaeus for safety. He could not tell, he had never 

 seen anything like it before ; it was some awful con- 

 vulsion of nature, but it was not that. They must 

 trust God's mercy for protection. 



One great clap was heard, thunder at last real 

 thunder this time following a blaze of lightning so 

 vivid as almost to obscure the deluge of blue flame now 

 rolling round the base of the mountain, and down came 

 the rain in torrents, driving them all to the shelter of the 

 hut. The drought had broken up in a fearful storm. 



But the storm could not explain to Linnaous the 

 meaning of those wayward fires, whose terrors were 

 seemingly soon forgotten by the rest. He, who alone 

 had appeared calm among them, could not conceal from 

 himself that here were real terrors, and something 

 more than met the careless eye. The storm was over. 

 He wandered out into the valley all alone, carrying 

 a lantern which cast a fitful ray over the warm, vapoury 

 silent wilderness. He was the only moving object. 

 There were neither stars nor moon, only the moist 



