Chapter 4

           Forsomeseconds,aftersurrenderingherselftotheSybillinethoughtsthusexpressed,theyoungladysateinsilence—herwhitehandsclaspedacrosshertemples,asifherwholesoulwasabsorbedinanattempt,eithertoexplainthepast,orpenetratethefuture.

           Herreverie—whatevermightbeitscause—wasnotoflongduration.Shewasawakenedfromit,onhearingexclamationswithout—mingledwithwordsthatdeclaredsomeobjectofapprehension.

           Sherecognisedherbrother’svoice,speakingintonesthatbetokenedalarm.

           "Look,father!don’tyouseethem?"

           "Where,Henry—where?"

           "Yonder—behindthewaggons.Youseethemnow?"

           "Ido—thoughIcan’tsaywhattheyare.Theylooklike—like—"Poindexterwaspuzzledforasimile—"Ireallydon’tknowwhat."

           "Waterspouts?"suggestedtheex-captain,who,atsightofthestrangeobjects,hadcondescendedtorejointhepartyaroundthecarriole."Surelyitcan’tbethat?It’stoofarfromthesea.Ineverheardoftheiroccurringontheprairies."

           "Theyareinmotion,whatevertheybe,"saidHenry."See!theykeepclosing,andthengoingapart.Butforthat,onemightmistakethemforhugeobelisksofblackmarble!"

           "Giants,orghouls!"jokinglysuggestedCalhoun;"ogresfromsomeotherworld,who’vetakenafancytohaveapromenadeonthisabominableprairie!"

           Theex-officerwasonlyhumorouswithaneffort.Aswellastheothers,hewasundertheinfluenceofanuneasyfeeling.

           Andnowonder.