Between Fire and Water

           BEFOREturninginto"theirnest,"asPaganelhadcalledit,he,andRobert,andGlenarvanclimbedupintotheobservatorytohaveonemoreinspectionoftheliquidplain.Itwasaboutnineo’clock;thesunhadjustsunkbehindtheglowingmistsofthewesternhorizon.

           Theeasternhorizonwasgraduallyassumingamoststormyaspect.Athickdarkbarofcloudwasrisinghigherandhigher,andbydegreesextinguishingthestars.Beforelonghalftheskywasoverspread.Evidentlymotivepowerlayintheclouditself,fortherewasnotabreathofwind.Absolutecalmreignedintheatmosphere;notaleafstirredonthetree,notarippledisturbedthesurfaceofthewater.Thereseemedtobescarcelyanyaireven,asthoughsomevastpneumaticmachinehadrarefiedit.Theentireatmospherewaschargedtotheutmostwithelectricity,thepresenceofwhichsentathrillthroughthewholenervoussystemofallanimatedbeings.

           "Wearegoingtohaveastorm,"saidPaganel.

           "You’renotafraidofthunder,areyou,Robert?"askedGlenarvan.

           "No,myLord!"exclaimedRobert."Well,myboy,somuchthebetter,forastormisnotfaroff."

           "Andaviolentone,too,"addedPaganel,"ifImayjudgebythelookofthings."

           "ItisnotthestormIcareabout,"saidGlenarvan,"somuchasthetorrentsofrainthatwillaccompanyit.Weshallbesoakedtotheskin.Whateveryoumaysay,Paganel,anestwon’tdoforaman,andyouwilllearnthatsoon,toyourcost."

           "Withthehelpofphilosophy,itwill,"repliedPaganel.