gs
in the landscape, and like turns to like, even making mutual
communication, although witchcraft was the word for that then, and the
mention of it dangerous.

Presently the terrific cloud ate up the spot where I had seen the man,
for its base was in the valley and its top above my altitude. Never
had I beheld such a thunder-cloud, but it was awe, a worship of the
forces of Nature, which filled me, not fear. Why should I, a young,
healthy man, with good nerves, be afraid, since the excessive tumult
was below me, and I was a privileged spectator. Quickly, however, the
cloud must burst, and then the sluices of heaven would indeed be open.
How would it fare with myself and the figure lost in the valley?

That thunderstorm and the consequent flood became events in our local
history, and to me a quick personal adventure. The rain came down,
first in a thick shower, then in torrents, finally in sheets. The fall
was so solid that it seemed to half-scotch the lightning and half-dull
the roar of the thunder. Actually, for I record truly, the drops leapt
up again in splashes as they struck the ground beside me, and in an
instant I was soaked, though that was no unusual experience in our
adventurous climate.

The thunder-cloud had now taken command of the whole firmament, so
swiftly had its violence of contagion spread. Here, verily, was a
rainfall on a great scale, and as it settled to business a sort of
darkness spread over the land. I must seek shelter, and I would find
it on the levels rather than on the exposed heights.

Therefore, I started for the valley, picking my way as best I could in
the black deluge. You will scarce believe me if I again tell you that
the rain-water ran down the hill-side with me, inches deep. It took
gravel and stones with it, and scoured away the bedding of large rocks
which, thus released, joined in the downward plunge. Some folk thought
it was the Flood of the Bible come again as prophesied, and, at all
events, the comparison gives a notion of it. The stream, which I had
seen an insignificant stripe below, met me, a roaring river. Its
waters had already overflowed the whole valley. Now you only saw the
tops of hillocks or trees, for all else was a gurgling waste of waters.

Over those waters came a cry which caught me, even in my sorry plight,
because it was human. Wild birds, beaten to the ground by the storm
and then engulfed in the waters, were screeching as they drowned.