The Hurricane 
THE usually clear sky had suddenly become overcast and 
threatening. Angry masses of heavy clouds began to roll 
swiftly up from the southeast, and the natives, running in 
from the beach, shouted to Mr. Gunn that the sea was ris- 
ing rapidly. It was the season for cyclonic storms, and all 
these signs betokened the approach of one of these dreaded 
visitants. In a few hours the sky had grown darker and 
still more threatening, while the sea was thundering in upon 
the land with a noise that was literally deafening. The wind, 
at first like a long, agonized, distant moan, began to roar 
and howl, wrenching the roofs from the houses, tearing 
leaves and branches from the trees, and sweeping the birds 
in thousands before it out over the face of the maddened 
ocean. 
“The rain,’ wrote Mr. Gunn, “mingled with the spray 
from the ocean, struck our faces like driving sleet, and forced 
us inside. The thatch was lifted from the roof, and the rain 
poured through the chinks. .. . Pictures, clothing, and books 
were put under the bed for safety. The children’s cots were 
removed to drier places. Outside, buildings began to give 
way; the poultry shed, goats’ house, and church all went 
down. The mission house still withstood the storm, and 
in spite of the discomfort, we were not alarmed. The chil- 
dren were delighted with the swaying coconuts, the flying 
branches, and a stream that flowed through the lobby.* The 
wind, still from the southeast, blew in great gusts till noon, 
and then there was a sudden, deathlike calm. One side of 
the cyclone had passed over us, and now we were in the 
center. 
* A small hall or waiting room. 
106 
