71 THE FORESTERS. 



Or black tornado, rushing through the wood, 



Alarms th' affrighted swains with uproar rude. 



Yet the blue heavens displayed their clearest sky, 



And dead below the silent forests lie; 



And not a breath the slightest leaf assailed ; 



lint all around tranquility prevailled. 



'• What noise is that?" we ask with anxious raein, 



A dull salt driver passing with his team; 



•' Noise ! noise ! — why nothing that I hear or see, 



But Niagara falls. — Pro}' whereabouts live ye?" 



All looked amazed ; yet not untouched with fear, 

 Like those who first the battle's thunders hear, 

 Till Duncan said, with grave, satiric glee — 

 " Lord, what a monstrous mill-dam that must be !" 

 Leech blushed .assent; while, as we nearer drew, 

 The loudening roar more harsh and heavy grew. 

 Awe-struck sensations now all speech represt, 

 And expectation throbbed in every breast. 



Now from the words immerging into day, 

 Before us fields, and farms, and orchards lay, 

 The sloping hills a hollow vale disclose, 

 Whence hurrying clouds of boiling smoke arose, 

 Till in one congregated column thrown, 

 On whose bright side a glorious rainbow shone, 

 High in the heavens it reared its towering head, 

 And o'er the day its train gigantic led. (55) 

 Beyond its base, there like a wall of foam, 

 Here in a circling gulf unbroken thrown, 

 With uproar hideous, first the Falls appear, 



