86 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



that seemed to issue from the bowels of the earth. 

 The warning was significant. 



" Halt ! stop ! " shouted we to the guides. " Stop ! 

 and let us seek shelter from the storm." 



" On ! for God's sake, on ! or we are lost," was the 

 reply. 



Thank Heaven ! the path is getting wider we 

 come to a descent they are leading us out of the 

 forest. If the storm had come on while we were 

 among the trees, we might be crushed to death by 

 the falling branches. We are close to a barranca. 



" Alerto! Alerto!" shrieked the Mexicans. "Madre 

 de Dios ! Dios ! Dios ! " 



And well might they call to God for help in that 

 awful moment. The gigantic night-moth gaped and 

 shot forth tongues of fire a ghastly white flame, 

 that contrasted strangely and horribly with the dense 

 black cloud from which it issued. There was a peal 

 of thunder that seemed to shake the earth, then a 

 pause, during which nothing was heard but the pant- 

 ing of our horses as they dashed across the barranca, 

 and began straining up the steep side of a knoll or 

 hillock. The cloud again opened : for a second every- 

 thing was lighted up. Another thunder-clap, and 

 then, as though the gates of its prison had been 

 suddenly burst open, the tempest came forth in its 

 might and fury, breaking, crushing, and sweeping 

 away all that opposed it. The trees of the forest 

 staggered and tottered for a moment, as if making 



