"I did not look for your majesty at such a time," replied the man,
lowering his pike. "Has your majesty no apprehension of the storm? I
have watched it gathering in the valley, and it will be a dreadful one. If I
might make bold to counsel you, I would advise you to seek instant
shelter in the castle."
"I have no fear, good fellow," laughed the king. " Get thee in yon porch,
and leave the terrace to me. I will warn thee when I leave it."
As he spoke a tremendous peal of thunder broke overhead, and seemed
to shake the strong pile to its foundations. Again the lightning rent the
black canopy of heaven in various places, and shot down in forked
flashes of the most dazzling brightness. A rack of clouds, heavily
charged with electric fluid, hung right over the castle, and poured down
all their fires upon it.
Henry paced slowly to and fro, utterly indifferent to the peril he ran--now
watching the lightning as it shivered some oak in the home park, or
lighted up the wide expanse of country around him--now listening to the
roar of heaven's artillery; and he had just quitted the western extremity
of the terrace, when the most terrific crash he had yet heard burst over
him.
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