ght have
been caused by the broadsides of an entire navy simultaneously
discharged, and the concussion of which sent a perceptible tremor
through the earth beneath them. The booming sounds seemed to echo back
and forth from cloud to cloud, rumbling and growling as though reluctant
to cease, but at length it subsided into momentary silence, only to
burst forth with even greater violence a few seconds later as a second
flash tore across the ink-black sky.

"That is our signal," remarked Phil quietly, as he rose to his feet.
"We may safely move now, for the `bad spirits' are abroad with a
vengeance to-night, and every Indian in the place--man, woman, and
child--will be cowering with head tightly wrapped in blanket and unable
to move for fear of what may be seen. There! listen to that!" as
another vivid flash illumined the hut, and low, terrified wails burst
forth from all round about them, mingling with the roar and volleying of
the thunder--"that gives one some idea of the state of mind that the
poor wretches are in. I believe that if the village were to take fire
they would remain in their huts and burn rather than turn out and face
the lightning. Come along; we must get clear away, if we can, before
the rain comes, because when it begins we shall be able to see nothing.
Now; have we all our belongings--my medicine case, our pistols and
ammunition, swords, bows and arrows? Yes; I think there is nothing
missing. Are you ready? Then--march!"

"But where are we going?" demanded Dick, as they groped their way out of
the hut in the opaque darkness that followed upon a dazzling flash of
lightning.

"First, round to the back of the hut, and then past the rear of the
other huts--since, although I believe we might walk straight through the
village without being seen, I do not believe in running unnecessary
risks. Then, down to the beach," replied Phil.

For the first few minutes of their journey the going was exceedingly
difficult, the eyes of the pair being alternately dazzled by the vivid
electric flashes and blinded by the Cimmerian darkness that followed
them; but by the time that they had groped their way through the village
and were approaching the beach, the flash and glimmer of the lightning,
both fork and sheet, had become almost continuous, and they were able to
see their way for the rest of the distance without difficulty.

"Now," said Phil, when at length they reached the beach and stood among
the canoes