pply of
fire-wood. The weather had been exceedingly hot, and scarcely had we
halted than we had to encounter an enemy for which we had not bargained.
Swarms of mosquitos attacked us the moment we left the protecting smoke
of the fire, buzzing round our heads in countless numbers, stinging our
faces and hands and such parts of our legs and ankles as were exposed.
Fortunately my mother had some mosquito curtains, within which she and
Kathleen obtained shelter at night, though we who had no means of
resisting their assaults were so stung that we could scarcely recognise
each other.

"In my opinion we shall have a storm before long," observed Martin
Prentis, "the way these creatures bite is a pretty sure sign of what is
going to happen."

Not long after he had made the remark, on looking up at the sky I saw a
thick mass of clouds sweeping across it, the stars rapidly disappearing.
Suddenly the whole horizon was lighted up with flashes of brilliant
flame and reiterated peals of thunder burst forth with fearful loudness.
There was, however, but little wind, and as yet no rain had fallen. As
Martin had advised, my father had the tilts of the waggons carefully
secured with additional ropes over them, as he had also my mother's
tent. The storm drew nearer and nearer. The lightning had hitherto
been at a distance, but now thick bars of fire darted through the air,
remaining visible for many seconds, zigzagging backwards and forwards
before they reached the ground, along which they went hissing like fiery
serpents, sometimes striking into it with loud crashes. Again for a
minute or two all seemed darkness, then once more the whole heaven was
illuminated, the thunder all the time roaring and rattling, now coming
from one direction, now from another. Our terrified horses rushed up to
the camp seeking protection, although the more stolid oxen appeared
indifferent to the uproar. Hitherto the air had been calm. Suddenly a
fierce blast swept across the plain, shaking the awnings of the waggons,
and threatening to bear them off bodily, or tear them to pieces.
Scarcely had the blast struck the camp, than down came the rain. My
mother and Kathleen rushed hurriedly into their tent, followed at their
invitation by Biddy and Rose, while we sought such shelter as the
waggons could afford. That was rain, and not only rain but hail, each
piece of ice the size of a pigeon's egg, some even larger. The rain
fell in no small drops, but