The
discharges of electricity from one cloud to another are the flashes of
lightning, and it is to be observed that the thunder is nothing more
than the noise made by the fluid rushing through the air."
"What, then, is the thunderbolt?"
"There is no such thing as what is popularly understood by the term
thunderbolt. The lightning itself, however, often does mischief. This
happens when the discharge, instead of being between two clouds in the
air, takes place between a cloud and the ground--a cloud surcharged
with electricity understood. Then all intervening objects are struck
by the fluid."
"There, however, you are wrong," said Fritz. "All objects are not
struck; on the contrary, the fluid avoids some things and searches out
others, even moving in a zig-zag direction to manifest these caprices;
it often discharges itself on or into hard substances, and passes by
those which are soft or feeble."
"I might say this arose from a sentiment of generosity," added Jack,
"but I have other reasons to assign."
"So much the better," said Fritz, "as I should scarcely be satisfied
with the first."
"Well," continued Jack, "lightning has its likings and dislikings."
"Like men and women," suggested Willis.
"It has a partiality for metal."
"An affection that is not returned, however," observed Fritz.
Pages:
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176