rmoil of the elements.

The old feeling that he belonged for the time to a far, far distant past
returned. He was alone on his island, as many a remote ancestor of his
must have been alone in the forest in his day, and yet he felt not the
least trace of loneliness or fear. Everything was wild, primeval and
grand to the last degree. The huge lake, curving up from the horizon,
had turned from blue to lead, save where the swift waves were crested
with white. The hail beat on the trees and bushes like myriads of
bullets, and the wind came with a high, shrill scream. The mainland was
lost in the mist and clouds, and he was not only alone on his island,
but alone in his world, and separated from his foes by tumbling and
impassable waters.

Henry's mind was in tune with the storm. He looked upon it as a
celebration of his triumph, the end of the flight and the chase, a
flight that had been successful for him, a chase that had been
unsuccessful for the chiefs and the renegades, and the blood merely
flowed more swiftly in his veins, as the hail beat upon him. He did not
care how long wind and hail lasted; the longer the better for him, and,
flinging out his hands, he waved a salute to the storm god.

He remained for hours looking upon the great spectacle, that pleased him
so much, and then kept dry by the huge painted coat, he went back to the
brush hut. But night only and the necessity to sleep could have sent him
there. He did not yet light a fire, contenting himself with the cold
food from the canoe, nor did he do so the next day, as the storm was
still raging. When it ceased on the third day all the trees and bushes
were coated with ice, and he was a dweller in the midst of a silver
forest. Then, with much difficulty he lighted a small fire before the
hut, warmed over some venison and a little of the precious bread. He
would not have to kill any game for a week or ten days and he was glad
that it was so, since he was still averse to slaying any member of the
kingdom of the animals that had befriended him so much.

The peace of the elements lasted only a few hours. Then they were in a
more terrible turmoil than ever. The wind whistled and shrieked, and the
snow came down, driven here and there in whirling gusts, while the lake
roared and thundered beneath the drive of the hurricane. Although there
were lulls at times, yet as a whole the storm lasted a whole week, and
it was remembered long by the Indians living in those no