longer possible to go on. For weeks the storm-clouds 

 had gathered, threatened, and dispersed ; thunder 

 had come half-heartedly, little spots of rain enough 

 to pock-mark the dust ; but there had been no break 

 in the drought. 



It was past noon that day when everything grew 

 still ; the birds and insects hushed their sound ; the 

 dry leaves did not give a whisper. There was the 

 warning in the air that one knows but cannot explain ; 

 and it struck me and the boys together that it was time 

 ta spread and tie down the buck-sails which we had 

 not unfolded for months. 



While we were busy at this there came an un- 

 heralded flash and crash ; then a few drops as big as 

 florins ; and then the flood-gates were opened and 

 the reservoir of the long months of drought was 

 turned loose on us. Crouching under the waggon 

 where I had crept to lash down the sail, I looked out 

 at the deluge, hesitating whether to make a dash for 

 my tent-waggon or remain there. 



All along the surface of the earth there lay for a 

 minute or so a two-feet screen of mingled dust and 

 splash : long spikes of rain drove down and dashed 

 into spray, each bursting its little column of dust 

 from the powdery earth. There was an indescribable 

 and unforgettable progression in sounds and smells 

 and sights a growth and change rapid yet steady, 

 inevitable, breathless, overwhelming. Little enough 

 could one realise in those first few minutes and in 

 the few square yards around ; yet there are details, 

 unnoticed at the time, which come back quite vividly 



423 



