bear our trouble! It is
hard--it is hard to bear trouble like this!"

Colwell and Troffater started for the lake to call up the Indians from
their wigwams on the shore. But they were hardly out of sight before
an ominous change passed lowering over the scene. A low moaning wind
swept through the woods and fields, and round the house; and the leaves
rustled, and the well-sweep swayed and creaked in the blast. Then a
drearier dusk succeeded; a fierce and freezing gust from the lake shot
by; and a long and rending roll of thunder announced the rising of a
violent storm. A fleet of ghastly vapors sailed over the zenith; and
feathery clouds floated after, opening and shutting with the thunder
and silence, and showing and hiding the stars as they flew. Then a
long rift of lightning leaped forth and trailed its blazing banners of
white, red, and purple in loops and festoons round the sky; and the
thunder redoubled its might, and closed in, and labored and roared, as
if wrestling down the world. Flame after flame, and peal on peal,
succeeded, and the storm halted over the lake and ran along its course,
as if bridled for a time, and struggled, and rolled, and roared; then a
wild thunder rent the rein, and it ran and rested over the settlement,
and spent its fury, and spun its fire. The wind blew a hurricane; the
rain dashed in cataracts; and every electric bolt seemed to shiver the
cisterns of heaven, and empty rivers of rain. Then the lightning was
uninterrupted, and you could have read a book, or counted the trees, or
viewed the lake by its constant blaze; while now and anon a wilder
volley exploded, and a more furious flash flew its zigzag flight from
the zenith to the ground.

It lasted a long hour, and you may imagine the terror and gloom it
poured on hearts already faint with grief. You may imagine the shrieks
and cries of the household; how they called on God to guard and save;
how the wild, wailing mother rushed out into the storm to recover her
precious boy, and was beaten back by the wind and flood; what were
their thoughts of his situation; what were their sobs and sighs.

At last the storm rolled away, and Colwell and Troffater returned, and
led in a band of Indians. Counsel was had, and arrangements were made
for the night. Horns were sounded; bells were rattled; tin pans and
hammers were clashed together; and the dark woodlands wailed with the
echoing sound. Fires were kindled, and torches flamed on