A STORM. 75 



approaching a clear steam, they gladly observed 

 a habitation on the opposite side. It proved 

 to be a tavern, which they reached by crossing 

 in a canoe. There they resolved to spend the 

 night, and as they were mnch fatigued, arranged 

 with their host to be conveyed in a Jersey wagon 

 some hundred miles further. The rising of 

 the moon was to be the moment for departure. 

 " That orbed maiden with white fire laden," soon 

 spread her silvery light over the woods. Their 

 conductor, then armed a long twig of hickory, 

 took a foremost seat in the wagon. Off went 

 the travellers at a round trot, to be hurried 

 fearlessly over tree trunks, stumps, and ruts 

 which lined the road, till they danced in the 

 vehicle like pease in a sieve ! A bright dawn 

 seemed the herald of fair weather; but soon 

 the cheerful tenor of their way was interrupted 

 by a change. Rain fell in torrents, thunder 

 roared, and lightning flamed, till night set in 

 black and dismal. Cold and wet, with little 

 disposition now to loquacity or mirth, the wan- 

 derers were compelled to pursue their course, 

 with no better prospect than braving the still 

 threatening elements throughout the night, as 

 they had done, in the open cart. To stop was 

 plainl}^ to seal such a doom. Onward they went, 

 till, on a sudden, a curve in the course of their 

 march brought the glimmer of a light, appar- 



