Then they all heard a mighty splash and the train gave a terrible lurch and threw those standing over on the floor and those sitting had a hard time to keep their places.
All the lights immediately went out and Alfy shouted, “We are struck!”
Some of the party shrieked and one or two fainted dead away. None could see the others in the terrible, black darkness in which they were enveloped.
At last, after a prolonged silence that seemed ages, Mrs. Calvert said. “Is any one hurt?”
Everyone began to collect their scattered thoughts by this time, and Mr. Ludlow had managed to rise from his fallen position and get Ruth up and into a seat. He grouped about in the pitch blackness into which they had been plunged and finally found his chair. He deftly managed to retain Ruth’s hand in his, in order to reassure her.
The answer Mrs. Calvert received in general was that everyone was safe and physically unharmed and mentally as near right as could be expected.
Mrs. Calvert then asked, “Did anyone see out of the window when the flash of lightning lit up this car?” And when she had received answer that no one had, she continued: “I happened to be sitting facing the window and when the flash came I saw out very plainly.”
“What did you see?” questioned Mr. Ludlow, in a firm voice.
“The river,” responded Mrs. Calvert. “The river was up to the tracks.”
The fact was suggestive of further danger, and then Dorothy questioned, “What was the crash? And why did the train lurch so? And why are all the lights out?”