MARTIN RATTLER. 59

“ What’s the matter, Barney?” inquired Martin, as
he observed his companion gaze anxiously up at the
sky.

“ Och, it’s comin’, sure enough.”

“ And what though it does come ?” returned Martin ;
“we can creep under one of these thick bushes till the
shower is past.”

“Did ye iver see a thunder-storm in the tropics?”
inquired Barney.

“No, never,” replied Martin.

“Then, if ye don’t want to feel and see it both at
wance, come with me as quick as iver ye can.”

Barney started up as he spoke, stuck his cutlass
and pistol into his belt, and set off towards the woods
at a sharp run, followed closely by his wondering
companion.

Their haste was by no means unnecessary. Great
black clouds rushed up towards the zenith from all
points of the compass, and, just as they reached the
woods, darkness so thick that it might almost be felt
overspread the scene. Then there was a flash of
lightning so vivid that it seemed as if a bright day
had been created and extinguished in a moment,
leaving the darkness ten times more oppressive. It
was followed instantaneously by a crash and a pro-

longed rattle, that sounded as if a universe of solid