"I consider a storm one of the sublimest phenomena that we can behold--don't you think so too ?" "Yes, and especially when the thunder is pealing," he said; "that majestic rolling, far different to the sharp crash of artillery, rises and falls like the long-drawn notes of the grandest music, and I can safely say that the tones of the most accomplished ARTISTE have never moved me like that incomparable voice of nature." "Rather a deep bass, though," I said, laughing.
"That may be," he answered; "but I wish we might hear it now, for this silent lightning is somewhat unexpressive." "Never mind that, Andre" I said; "enjoy a storm when it comes, if you like, but pray don't wish for it." "And why not ?" said he; "a storm will bring us wind, you know." "And water, too," added Miss Herbey, "the water of which we are so seriously in need." The young people evidently wished to regard the storm from their own point of view, and although I could have opposed plenty of common sense to their poetical sentiments, I said no more, but let them talk on as they pleased for fully an hour.
Meantime the sky was becoming quite overclouded, and after the zodiacal constellations had disappeared in the mists that hung round the horizon, one by one the stars above our heads were veiled in dark rolling masses of vapour, from which every instant there issued forth sheets of electricity that formed a vivid background to the dark grey fragments of cloud that floated beneath.
As the reservoir of electricity was confined to the higher strata of the atmosphere, the lightning was still unaccompanied by thunder; but the dryness of the air made it a weak conductor.

Evidently the fluid could only escape by terrible shocks, and the storm must ere long burst forth with fearful violence.
This was the opinion of Curtis and the boatswain.

The boatswain is only weather-wise from his experience as a sailor; but Curtis, in addition to his experience, has some scientific knowledge, and he pointed out to me an appearance in the sky known to meteorologists as a "cloud-ring," and scarcely ever seen beyond the regions of the torrid zone, which are impregnated by damp vapours brought from all quarters of the ocean by the action of the trade-winds.
"Yes, Mr.Kazallon," said Curtis, "our raft has been driven into the region of storms, of which it has been justly remarked that any one endowed with very sensitive organs can at any moment distinguish the growlings of thunder." "Hark!" I said, as I strained my ears to listen, "I think I can hear it now." "You can," he answered; "yet what you hear is but the first warning of the storm which, in a couple of hours, will burst upon us with all its fury.

But never mind, we must be ready for it." Sleep, even if we wished it, would have been impossible in that stifling temperature.

The lightning increased in brilliancy, and appeared from all quarters of the horizon, each flash covering large arcs, varying from 100deg.