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Page 31 text:
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A DESb'RT EXPERIENCE im| and I were riding along slowly. The sun’s rays were heating down upon the vast expanse of glaring white sand that was so hot that heat waves could he seen rising from it. W e were covered with a fine grey alkali dust and our throats were as dr as pith. High overhead, three buzzards were flaming lazily in a circle. Alter a short period of silence, Ned remarked: My. how good an ice cold chocolate milk with ice cream would taste?” I told him if he did not hush I would get off and choke him. Finally Xed looked hack to see if the others were following, and as he did so. we heard his uncle, Mr. Johnson, shout for us to stop. We did so. and on looking hack saw him waving his hand frantically toward the west. l this moment something went wrong with my motor and I bent over to investigate, hut Xed on looking in the west was alarmed by what he saw, and exclaimed: “Mv goodness. look what a black cloud! It’s as black as ink.” (hi looking. I. too. was alarmed. There is a storm brewing as sure as shooting.” continued Xed. “Ves, Inn what kind of a storm?” I inquired. I don t know, hut it doesn i look like a thunder storm. returned my chum. Xed had described it as inkv black, but this description was not altogether correct, although at first sight the heavens did appear to have a sable pall over them. 'I he color of the sky before me was a greenish black with an underglow of livid copper beneath its ragged edges. While we looked on a zig-zag ribbon of lambent flame flickered across the dark curtain of cloud. It was followed by another and another until the dark cloud was slashed and tom in every direction. “Did you ever see anything like it. gasped Ned. !• ' lhis the truck carrying the tents, grub and water tank stopped close by. Mr. Johnson gave orders to make everything secure. The motorcycles were lashed to the auto and everything that stood a chance of being blown away was Made last. Ned s uncle did not say much while these preparations were being, made, but his looks spoke volumes. It was clear that he feared a terrific wind would accompany the breaking of the storm. Although it was almost dark, the atmosphere had in itself a ghastlv tinge that made our faces livid and unearthly. An odd odor also was in the air. a sulphurous smell that made our nostrils tingle. The whole desert was shrouded in a curtain of darkness and the lightning ripped and tore through the black cloud draperies, hut as yet not a drop of rain had fallen nor had a rumble of thunder resounded. Except lor the zip and crackle of the lightning there was not a sound. Motionless and wordless, we stood by the side of the automobile, watching the inky heavens. Suddenly in the sky there apj eared an extraordinary sight. Imagine a vast form similar to a balloon, slightly inclined to one side, spinning faster than the fastest top. and you have an idea of the strange sight. At the bottom the snout-like form in which the mass ended wavered about Pat e thirty-one
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Page 32 text:
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as though feeling for something, as an octopus looking for food with one of its long arms. Front its violent motions it appeared almost as if the upper part » f the strange formation were trying to tear itself loose. Now from the face of the desert another snout was raised, attached to a similar balloon, and advanced with great rapidity toward the first strange form. The two silently whirling balloons, each of great height and so black that they stood out sharp! silhouetted against the surrounding gloom, now began a witch’s dance in the sky. Sometimes they leaned far back and then danced forward as if saluting each other. Then they would dart from each other as if repelled by some unseen force. Again they appeared about to rush into each other’s arms, only to whirl off once more and resume their weird dance in the skies. At last a low moaning noise was heard in the air. It sounded not unlike the breaking of an angry sea on a rockv coast. Suddenly, while the balloon-like forms were still going through one of their strange dances, they rushed together. ()n meeting, the two forms appeared to engage in a giant struggle. Round and round they spun, wavering, leaning, bouncing here and there as if they were having a wrestling match. All this time there was a steady roar like that of a big waterfall. Unable to speak or even move, we watched this ghastly dance, in great alarm. From time to time the lightning illumined our pallid faces. Once Ned glanced around at his uncle, whose face was set and drawn as the lightning played upon it flickering!}’. Suddenly there was a shout from Charlie, the guide. It’s coming this way!” ■'(let to cover, crawl under the auto and hold tight for your lives.” shouted our leader. scramble for the shelter of the heavy car followed. The lightning was now continual. No one spoke a word. In fact, even a shout would hard!} have been carried more than a hand's breadth in the car-split-ting turmoil. The air became full of sand and pebbles that stung like needles when they struck us in the face. Instinctively we lay on our faces, clutching the ground for fear of being blown away. If this pillar of cloud, or whatever it is. ever hits us.” 1 said to myself, it means ‘good-bye.’ ” I was clutching the sj okes of one of the auto's hind wheels at that moment and distinctly felt the immense machine rise an inch or so and settle back with a bump. Not even the heavy auto can remain steady in such a case, I thought with additional alarm: it will be swept away like a straw and wc will go whirling after it. to be dashed to death somewhere out on the desert.” The thought had hardly flashed through my mind when there came a glare of lightning so fearfully vivid that it seemed to scorch my eyes. Blinded for one instant, the next moment a deafening crash like the report of a huge gun deprived me of my hearing. Mow long I lay there, half stunned. I never knew, hut in reality it was not many minutes before Ned was shaking me by the shoulder. Are you all right ? he questioned. (Continued on Page 35) Pau thirty-two
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