A VISIT TO SOME STRANGE PLACES. 105 



through the jagged clefts a lurid waste of the most 

 intensely glowing fire. The coming and going of these 

 amazing brightnesses, combined with the Egyptian dark 

 between, was completely blinding. So loaded was the 

 still air with electricity that from every point aloft pale 

 flames streamed upward, giving the ship the appearance 

 of a huge candelabrum with innumerable branches. 

 One of the hands, who had been ordered aloft on some 

 errand of securing a loose end, presented a curious sight. 

 He was bareheaded, and from bis hair the all-pervading 

 fluid arose, lighting up his features, which were ghastly 

 beyond description. When he lifted his hand, each 

 separate finger became at once an additional point from 

 which light streamed. There was no thunder, but a 

 low hissing and a crackling which did not amount to 

 noise, although distinctly audible to all. Sensations 

 most unpleasant of pricking and general irritation 

 were felt by every one, according to their degree of 

 susceptibility. 



After about an hour of this state of things, a low 

 moaning of thunder was heard, immediately followed 

 by a few drops of rain large as dollars. The mutter- 

 ings and grumblings increased until, with one peal that 

 made the ship tremble as though she had just struck a 

 rock at full speed, down came the rain. The windows 

 of heaven were opened, and no man might stand against 

 the steaming flood that descended by thousands of tons 

 per minute. How long it continued, I cannot say ; 

 probably, in its utmost fierceness, not more than half an 

 hour. Then it slowly abated, clearing away as it did 

 so the accumulation of gloom overhead, until, before 

 midnight had struck, all the heavenly host were shedding 

 their beautiful brilliancy upon us again with apparently 



