I could feel the jar and rush of the runners and the rain that seemed to roar as it dashed into my face.

Then, suddenly, the sledgehouse gave a great leap into the air and the grating of the runners ceased.

The lantern went hard against the roof; there was a mighty roar in my ears; then we heard a noise like thunder and felt the shock of a blow that set my back aching, and cracked the roof above our heads.

It was all still for a second; then we children began to cry, and Uncle Eb staggered to his feet and lit the lantern that had gone out and that had no globe, I remember, as he held it down to our faces.
'Hush! Are you hurt ?' he said, as he knelt before us.

'Git up now, see if ye can stand.' We got to our feet, neither of us much the worse for what had happened--My knuckles were cut a bit by a splinter, and Hope had been hit on the shins by the lantern globe as it fell.
'By the Lord Harry!' said Uncle Eb, when he saw we were not hurt.
'Wonder what hit us.' We followed him outside while he was speaking.
'We've slid downhill,' he said.