So DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



seemed cleft asunder by many a rift of fire, tearing 

 and rending the intense darkness, as if naught but 

 the immolation of the earth would satisfy the craving 

 for destruction of these erratic fiends. The rain, 

 which for a time had ceased, now descended like a 

 cataract, evidently intent upon engulfing what its 

 allies had left uninjured. A dead calm for a breath- 

 ing space had reigned. Not so now, for the winds 

 rushed forth, tearing and prostrating whatever dared 

 to oppose their progress. Several of the adjoining 

 trees told their downfall by the crash with which 

 they saluted their parent earth, while others groaned 

 and trembled as if supplicating to be spared the fate 

 of their comrades. 



1 1 is such an ordeal as this that tests the courage 

 and discipline of a vessel's crew : the present expe- 

 rience tried the material my people were composed 

 of, and, with the exception of our cook, I found all 

 equal to the occasion. When the gale struck the 

 camp, for some seconds I feared that it would 

 overturn the waggons, more especially as the horses 

 attached to them used every effort to rend them- 

 selves free ; and great must have been the breakage 

 and loss of property if such a contretemps had taken 

 place. So it became necessary, for their sake as well 

 as mine, that they should be released. I shouted 

 for the Totty and Zulu, for all, every one, to assist 

 me in the task I had allotted myself, which was far 

 from free from very many elements of danger ; and, 



