A deeper blackness had grown there while we had been talking, a pool of darkness against which the mountain summits stood out, blade-sharp edges faintly luminous.
A gigantic lance of misty green fire darted from the blackness and thrust its point into the heart of the zenith; following it, leaped into the sky a host of the sparkling spears of light, and now the blackness was like an ebon hand, brandishing a thousand javelins of tinseled flame.
"The aurora," I said.
"It ought to be a good one," mused Drake, gaze intent upon it.

"Did you notice the big sun spot ?" I shook my head.
"The biggest I ever saw.

Noticed it first at dawn this morning.

Some little aurora lighter--that spot.

I told you--look at that!" he cried.
The green lances had fallen back.