It made her forget all things but the splendid might of nature.

Her half-wild soul thrilled to the crash and fire of it.

Often she had reached up her bare arms and laughed with joy as the deluge burst about her.

Even now she might have stood there in the little open until the rain fell, if a whine from Baree had not caused her to turn.

As the first big drops struck with the dull thud of leaden bullets about them, she went with him into the balsam shelter.
Once before Baree had passed through a night of terrible storm--the night he had hidden himself under a root and had seen the tree riven by lightning; but now he had company, and the warmth and soft pressure of the Willow's hand on his head and neck filled him with a strange courage.