TERRIFIC STORM. 



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arrived at my destination. They told me that if I 

 " cachema" (rode fast or ran), the sun would set before I 

 had gone more than so far, pointing to about half of a 

 stick he held in his hand ; this explanation gave me as 

 good an idea of the distance, as though he had told it me 

 in miles and furlongs. We pushed on as fast as we 

 could ; but as there was no road, and the sun occasionally 

 hidden by dark clouds, it was difficult to keep exactly 

 the course, especially as many deep ravines crossed our 

 intended road. As the sun was going down, there seemed 

 every sign of a severe storm. Those only who have seen 

 a tropical thunder-storm can judge what a pleasant 

 prospect there was before us, for an open plain affords a 

 poor shelter from its violence. As no sign of a habita- 

 tion appeared on the line we were pursuing, I struck off to 

 the right, where a klooff a mile distant offered a prospect of 

 shelter. On reaching it, some large trees, with the usual 

 creepers spreading over them, made a fairish shield 

 against the expected pelting shower. I off-saddled the 

 horses, making them fast to a tree. I sat upon one of 

 the saddles, covered with a blanket I usually carried 

 under it, and made the Kaffir do the same with the other. 

 The deep gloom and heavy clouds that had advanced from 

 the horizon over our heads, and sped along as if by 

 express, caused darkness in a few minutes. The slight 

 gusts of wind, wild and unmeaning, rustled the leaves 

 about in an unnatural sort of way, while little whirlwinds 

 seemed to search out every small track of sand, and raise 

 it in revolving clouds. The birds flew for shelter in 

 the klooff, and flitted about from tree to tree, as though 



