Think
it's going to rain, do you?" demanded Peg.
"Don't _think_ nawthin' 'bout it; I _know_ it be." And, Nick added,
with emphasis, "I reckons as how it'll be jest a _screamer_ when she
comes."
"A storm, you mean?"
"A howler. Allers does when the wind backs up that way into the
sou'east. 'Sides, if so be ye air still sot on findin' out what makes
that thunder up this ways, p'raps ye'll have the chanct to look into
the same afore long, Peg."
"Oh! was that what I felt just now?" cried the boy, scrambling to his
knees. "It seemed to me the old mountain was trembling just like I did
once, when I had the ague. And Nick, I believe you're more'n half
right, because I sure heard a low grumble just then, like far-away
thunder. I wish I hadn't been such a fool as to come up here. Never
get me doing such a silly thing again as long as I live. Listen! It's
coming again, Nick, and louder than before. Don't you feel how the
ground shivers? Perhaps there's going to be a terrible landslip right
now! Do you think so, Nick?"
Frank and Bob, crouching close by, had also felt that quiver under
them. It gave the saddle boys a queer feeling. When the solid earth
moves it always affects human kind and animals in a way to induce fear;
because of the confidence they put in the stability of the ground.
And then there arose gradually but with increasing force a deep
terrible rumble.
Thunder Mountain was speaking!
CHAPTER XIV
A CALL FOR HELP
"Oh! what shall we do, Nick?" cried Peg.
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