NONSUCH 



and here, like wounded elephants supported by a 

 comrade, the stricken pair had not been allowed to 

 reach the ground. The strength of their rescuers 

 promised long life to both; the ranks of the cedars 

 had closed up, the hurricane could claim no victory. 

 To those who have led sheltered lives it seems 

 natural to speak of "the weather"; to us more 

 fortunate ones, who have endured heat, suffered 

 cold, fought through hail and snow on high Hima- 

 layas, wagered and won heavy odds with a dozen 

 yards of undertow; who in night and fog have 

 prayed from an airplane for at least soft branches, 

 have risked everything on a few mouthfuls of rain 

 falling not too late ; and in addition, what is equally 

 important, have marvelled at each sunrise and sun- 

 set and secretly uncovered at every miracle rain- 

 bow — to us it is not natural to speak of " the 

 weather." We have learned to say Weather with a 

 capital and in a whisper, and are not ashamed to 

 imitate our early apemen forebears and to personify 

 the glories and terrors of the atmosphere, the ffither 

 — the work and the play of Milord the Weather. 



170 



