50 EDGE OF THE JUNGLE 



When I discovered this, it seemed a disconcerting 

 anti-climax, just as one can make the bravest 

 man who has been under rifle-fire flinch by spin- 

 ning a match swiftly past his ear. 



I have heard this sound of parrakeet's wings, 

 when the birds were alighting nearby, half a 

 dozen times ; but after half a hundred I shall duck 

 just as spontaneously, and for a few seconds 

 stand just as immobile with astonishment. From 

 a volcano I expect deep and sinister sounds; 

 when I watch great breakers I would marvel only 

 if the accompanying roar were absent; but on a 

 calm sunny August day I do not expect a noise 

 which, for suddenness and startling character, 

 can be compared only with a tremendous flash of 

 lightning. Imagine a wonderful tapestry of 

 strong ancient stuff, which had only been woven, 

 never torn, and think of this suddenly ripped 

 from top to bottom by some sinister, irresistible 

 force. 



In the instant that the sound began, it ceased ; 

 there was no echo, no bell-like sustained over- 

 tones; both ends were buried in silence. As it 

 came to-day it was a high tearing crash which 

 shattered silence as a Very light destroys dark- 

 ness; and at its cessation I looked up and saw 



