94 BY-WA YS AND BIRD-NO TES. 



quaked, as if in a convulsion of pain. Sud- 

 denly the gorge closed up till the slimy walls 

 thereof oppressed us and its jagged teeth 

 grazed us on either side. But on we rushed, 

 tempest behind us, thunder before us, the 

 blackness of utter darkness all about us, and 

 at last, with a mighty explosion of all terrors, 

 we were hurled like a missile from some giant 

 engine — a very missile, indeed — forth from 

 the grim, stony lips of that awful fissure, reel- 

 ing and spinning far out upon the swift, level 

 bosom of the little river lapsing into the open 

 country. 



The evening farewell of the sun was glorify- 

 ing the distant mountain lines, the sweet 

 maple trees on either side of us were waving 

 betwixt gloom and splendor, and the breeze 

 was a deep, tender sigh of relief. 



" Unde hcec tarn clara refente 

 Tempestas?" 



The belted halcyon turned aside in his flight, 

 and perching upon a bough laughed his fill at 

 /us as we drew past him. The roar of the rap- 

 ids receded and faded, leaving at last in my 

 heart a tender melody which never can depart. 

 I had hovered on the Threshold of thk 

 Gods' 



