PREPARATIONS FOR THE STORM. 167 



procured and placed under them, so that in the 

 event of any irruption of water they should be 

 secure. All small articles were stowed away, and 

 everything, as far as possible, got under cover. The 

 guns were carefully put to bed as the safest place, 

 and there covered up. The horses were secured in 

 the most sheltered position ; and saddles and bridles, 

 till now hanging on the branches of the trees, taken 

 into the tents. 



When all was made snug, and every device which 

 occurred to them resorted to, the hunters sat quietly 

 in the shade outside their tents, calmly awaiting, in 

 the stagnant atmosphere, the approach of the storm, 

 now slowly rolling up over the heavens. 



For a long time its approach was perceptible, as 

 dense clouds and columns of dust obscured, one by 

 one, the more distant hill peaks. Range after range 

 gradually sank invisible behind the lurid rolls and 

 pillars which were surmounted by a dark indigo 

 canopy. Onwards they canie, streaks of lightning 

 flashing above them, followed by the low rumbling 

 of still distant thunder. A scorching hot putf or 

 two, the first heralds or skirmishers of the storm, 

 just stirred the lethargic leaves, then died away. 

 Again they came hotter and with greater force, and 

 the vegetation rustled louder under their influence. 

 Soon the fitful gusts merged into one continued 



