It struck the earth with terrific force; then retired, grumbling and muttering like some tremendous monster robbed of its prey. Then the rain began, pouring down in torrents, dashing itself upon the cabin roof and windows with such violence it seemed solid wood and glass must give way before it. It raged; it danced in frenzy; it hurled itself in stinging dagger points upon the deck, while the wind shrieked a weirdly wild accompaniment.
“It’s a hurricane!” shouted Jessie above the wind, and some way in the semi-darkness she found her way to Lucile’s side, where Evelyn had come before her. It was strange how the three friends clung together instinctively.
“Oh, Lucy, do you suppose we could possibly be swamped?”
“Of course not,” said Lucile, trying with difficulty to be reassuring, as a sudden lurch of the boat sent her back 138 against the cushions. “Didn’t you hear the captain say we were perfectly safe?”
“How’s this for a storm, eh?” yelled Phil, balancing with difficulty. “If it wasn’t for Mother, I’d go on deck and watch.”
“And get struck by lightning,” said Lucile. “Oh-h!” as another flash rent the darkness, followed by a terrific crash of thunder. “This can’t last long.”
“Don’t be alarmed, any one.” It was Mr. Applegate’s voice, and though they couldn’t locate him in the gloom, it was a comfort just to hear him speak. “It’s only a hard shower and an unusually strong wind. It will blow itself out in ten minutes.”
The captain was right, and in less time than he allowed the storm began to abate; the flashes of lightning became less frequent, the thunder less and less fierce, and the gloom began to lighten so they could distinguish each other. Slowly and reluctantly the wind died away until only the rolling of the boat remained to testify to its violence.
As soon as Mr. Applegate thought it wise to venture on deck the whole party very willingly repaired there. The sky was still a dull, leaden color, but around the spot where the sun was hiding behind the banked-up clouds shone a misty radiance, sure prophecy of brightness to come.
They were still finding it rather hard to recover their former hilarious spirits when, fifteen minutes later the sky opened as if by magic, letting forth a burst of golden sunshine that flooded the river and danced on the water so gladly and joyously that the girls and boys shouted with delight.