CHAPTER V.The Bonfire--The Prodigy.
Andy Davoren's prognostic, so far as the appearance of the weather went, seemed, at a first glance, to be literally built on ashes.

A calm, mild, and glorious serenity lay upon the earth; the atmosphere was clear and golden; the light of the sun shot in broad, transparent beams across the wooded valleys, and poured its radiance upon the forest tops, which seemed empurpled with its rich and glowing tones.

All the usual signs of change! or rough weather were wanting.

Everything was quiet; and a general stillness was abroad, which, when a sound did occur, caused it to be heard at an unusual distance.

Not a breath of air stirred the trees, which stood as motionless as if they had been carved of marble.
Notwithstanding all these auspicious appearances, there were visible to a clear observer of nature some significant symptoms of a change.