Herons and other aquatic birds were flapping lazily up and down the shores; the sunshine was so hot and the air so stagnant that the horses and other live stock beneath the low roofs of the arks were manifestly distressed.
There was much talk of a hostile Indian band at Island No. 10; and the captains of the two arks from Kaskaskia proposed an arrangement very common in those days, namely, that they should make the three broadhorns and the two covered sleds fast to each other by spars and hawsers, and so float down in company, for mutual aid and protection in case of attack, either by the savages or riotous white boatmen.
Self-reliance and a disposition to manage his own boat without depending on others, were leading traits of Marion Royce’s character; but, since the other captains asked it and his own crew liked the idea, he consented; and the three larger craft were made fast abreast, with the two Cincinnati flats and the skiff astern, and in this order they poled off from Iron Banks.
It was now about four o’clock in the afternoon, the sun still very hot and the air close and sultry. Clouds were rising in the northwest, however, with promise of a breeze or a shower; and, being desirous of catching the first cool breath that came, Moses Ayer, Lewis Hoyt and Wistar Royce climbed on the roof of their ark. Here they could overlook the entire flotilla, as well as the shores of the river.
The peculiar aspect of the sky at once attracted their attention.
“That’s a mighty queer-looking cloud!” Lewis exclaimed. “Looks like smoke, and see how the edges of it are rolling in together!”
“There’s a thunder-squall coming,” said Wistar. “It’s coming fast, too!”
“Below there, Mack,” he shouted to his brother, who was forward under the roof. “Squall coming!”
The young captain climbed to the roof to see for himself, for the roofs of the two large Kaskaskia boats on each side of them obstructed the view from the deck of the ark. He had hardly done so, however, when they saw the trees on the other shore of the river sway, bend, and twist violently. Branches, twigs and leaves were whirled upward, and immediately the intervening water of the river was wildly agitated, appearing to rise in the air in vast white sheets.
No opportunity was afforded for precautions of any sort. They barely had time to swing down from the roof when, with a wild howl, the squall—a true tornado—was upon them!