CHAP. VI. ] A Terrible Night. 105 
ter under a flat tombstone supported by four low pillars. 
There was just room enough for him to lie down at full 
length. The storm was not yet at its height. The thun- 
der pealed and crashed and rolled along the heavens, as if 
the universe were about to be torn asunder and the mighty 
fragments hurled out into infinity. It became louder and 
louder—nearer and nearer. The lightning flashed in red 
and yellowish fiery streams; each flash leaving behind it a 
suffocating, sulphurous odor. Then followed torrents of 
rain and hail and lumps of ice. 
After the thunder-storm the wind began—lightly at first, 
but, increasing rapidly, it soon blew a hurricane. The sea 
rose, and lashed its waves furiously along the coast. Al- 
though Edward had entertained no fear of the thunder, he 
now began to fear lest the tremendous fury of the wind 
would blow down the rickety gable-end of the old church 
of Boyndie; in which case it-would have fallen upon the 
tombstone, under which he lay. 
The hurricane lasted for about an hour, after which the 
wind fell. Midnight was long past, and morning was ap- 
proaching. Before leaving the tombstone, Edward endeav- 
ored to obtain a few minutes’ sleep. He had just begun to 
doze, when he was awakened by a weird and unearthly moan- 
ing. He listened. The moaning became a stifled scream. 
The noise grew louder and louder, until it rose into the 
highest pitch of howling. What could it be? He was in 
the home of the dead! Was it a ghost? Never! His 
mind revolted from the wretched superstition. He looked 
out to see what it could be, when something light in color 
dashed past like a flash, closely followed by another and a 
darker object. After the screaming had ceased, Edward 
again composed himself to sleep, when he was wakened up 
by a sudden rush over his legs. He looked up. The mys- 
tery was solved! Two cats—a light and a dark one—had 
been merely caterwauling in the grave-yard, and making 
night hideous, according to their usual custom. 
5x 
