But while I thought, the yellow lightning spread behind a bulk of clouds, three times ere the flash was done, far off and void of thunder; and from the pile of cloud before it, cut as from black paper, and lit to depths of blackness by the blaze behind it, a form as of an aged man, sitting in a chair loose-mantled, seemed to lift a hand and warn.
'This minded me of my grandfather, and all the care I owed him.
Moreover, now the storm was rising and I began to grow afraid; for of all things awful to me thunder is the dreadfulest.

It doth so growl, like a lion coming, and then so roll, and roar, and rumble, out of a thickening darkness, then crack like the last trump overhead through cloven air and terror, that all my heart lies low and quivers, like a weed in water.

I listened now for the distant rolling of the great black storm, and heard it, and was hurried by it.

But the youth before me waved his rolled tobacco at it, and drawled in his daintiest tone and manner,-- '"The sky is having a smoke, I see, and dropping sparks, and grumbling.
I should have thought these Exmoor hills too small to gather thunder." '"I cannot go, I will not go with you, Lord Alan Brandir," I answered, being vexed a little by those words of his.

"You are not grave enough for me, you are not old enough for me.