THE ALLEGASH AND EAST BRANCH. 
243 
As we lay huddled together under the tent, which 
leaked considerably about the sides, with our baggage 
at our feet, we listened to some of the grandest thunder 
which I ever heard, — rapid peals, round and plump, bang, 
bang, bang, in succession, like artillery from some fortress 
in the sky ; and the lightning was proportionally brilliant. 
The Indian said, “It must be good powder.” All for 
the benefit of the moose and us, echoing far over the 
concealed lakes. I thought it must be a place which the 
thunder loved, where the lightning practised to keep its 
hand in, and it would do no harm to shatter a few pines. 
What had become of the ephemeras and devil’s-needles 
then? Were they prudent enough to seek harbor be¬ 
fore the storm ? Perhaps their motions might guide the 
voyageur. 
Looking out I perceived that the violent shower falling 
on the lake had almost instantaneously flattened the 
waves, — the commander of that fortress had smoothed it 
for us so, — and it clearing off, we resolved to start imme¬ 
diately, before the wind raised them again. 
Going outside, I said that I saw clouds still in the 
southwest, and heard thunder there. The Indian asked 
if the thunder went “lound” (round), saying that if it 
did we should have more rain. I thought that it did. 
We embarked, nevertheless, and paddled rapidly back 
toward the dams. The white-throated sparrows on the 
shore were about, singing, Ah te , e, e , te, e, e , te, or else 
ah te, e , e , te, e, e, te, e, e, te, e, e. 
At the outlet of Chamberlain Lake we were overtaken 
by another gusty rain-storm, which compelled us to take 
shelter, the Indian under his canoe on the bank, and we 
ran under the edge of the dam. However, we were 
more scared than wet. From my covert I could see the 
