we hurried after don cosmé towards the ante-sala, both myself and my companions ignorant of this new object of dread.
when we emerged from the stairway the scene that hailed us was one of terrific sublimity. earth and heaven had undergone a sudden and convulsive change. the face of nature, but a moment since gay with summer smiles, was now hideously distorted. the sky had changed suddenly from its blue and sunny brightness to an aspect dark and portentous.
along the north-west a vast volume of black vapour rolled up over the sierra madre, and rested upon the peaks of the mountains. from this, ragged masses, parting in fantastic forms and groupings, floated off against the concavity of the sky as though the demons of the storm were breaking up from an angry council. each of these, as it careered across the heavens, seemed bent upon some spiteful purpose.
an isolated fragment hung lowering above the snowy cone of orizava, like a huge vampire suspended over his sleeping victim.
from the great “parent cloud” that rested upon the sierra madre, lightning-bolts shot out and forked hither and thither or sank into the detached masses—the messengers of the storm-king bearing his fiery mandates across the sky.
away along the horizon of the east moved the yellow pillars of sand, whirled upward by the wind, like vast columnar towers leading to heaven.
the storm had not yet reached the rancho. the leaves lay motionless under a dark and ominous calm; but the wild screams of many birds—the shrieks of the swans, the discordant notes of the frightened pea-fowl, the chattering of parrots as they sought the shelter of the thick olives in terrified flight—all betokened the speedy advent of some fearful convulsion.
the rain in large drops fell upon the broad leaves with a soft, plashing sound; and now and then a quick, short puff came snorting along, and, seizing the feathery frondage of the palms, shook them with a spiteful and ruffian energy.
the long green stripes, after oscillating a moment, would settle down again in graceful and motionless curves.
a low sound like the “sough” of the sea or the distant falling of water came from the north; while at intervals the hoarse bark of the coyoté and the yelling of terrified monkeys could be heard afar off in the woods.
“tapa la casa! tapa la casa!” (cover the house!) cried don cosmé as soon as he had fairly got his head above ground. “anda!—anda con los macates!” (quick with the cords!) with lightning quickness a roll of palmetto mats came down on all sides of the house, completely covering the bamboo walls, and forming a screen impervious to both wind and rain. this was speedily fastened at all corners, and strong stays were carried out and warped around the trunks of trees. in five minutes the change was complete. the cage-looking structure had disappeared, and a house with walls of yellow petaté stood in its place.
“now, señores, all is secured,” said don cosmé. “let us return to the drawing-room.”
“i should like to see the first burst of this tornado,” i remarked, not wishing to intrude upon the scene of sorrow we had left.
“so be it, captain. stand here under the shelter, then.”
“hot as thunder!” growled the major, wiping the perspiration from his broad, red cheeks.
“in five minutes, señor coronel, you will be chilled. at this point the heated atmosphere is now compressed. patience! it will soon be scattered.”
“how long will the storm continue?” i asked. “por dios! señor, it is impossible to tell how long the ‘norté’ may rage: sometimes for days; perhaps only for a few hours. this appears to be a ‘huracana’. if so, it will be short, but terrible while it lasts. carrambo!”
a puff of cold, sharp wind came whistling past like an arrow. another followed, and another, like the three seas that roll over the stormy ocean. then, with a loud, rushing sound, the broad, full blast went sweeping—strong, dark, and dusty—bearing upon its mane the screaming and terrified birds, mingled with torn and flouted leaves.
the olives creaked and tossed about. the tall palms bowed and yielded, flinging out their long pinions like streamers. the broad leaves of the plantains flapped and whistled, and, bending gracefully, allowed the fierce blast to pass over.
then a great cloud came rolling down; a thick vapour seemed to fill the space; and the air felt hot and dark and heavy. a choking, sulphureous smell rendered the breathing difficult, and for a moment day seemed changed to night.
suddenly the whole atmosphere blazed forth in a sheet of flame, and the trees glistened as though they were on fire. an opaque darkness succeeded. another flash, and along with it the crashing thunder—the artillery of heaven—deafening all other sounds.
peal followed peal; the vast cloud was breached and burst by a hundred fiery bolts; and like an avalanche the heavy tropical rain was precipitated to the earth.
it fell in torrents, but the strength of the tempest had been spent on the first onslaught. the dark cloud passed on to the south, and a piercing cold wind swept after it.
“vamos á bajar, señores!” (let us descend, gentlemen), said don cosmé with a shiver, and he conducted us back to the stairway.
clayley and the major looked towards me with an expression that said, “shall we go in?” there were several reasons why our return to the drawing-room was unpleasant to myself and my companions. a scene of domestic affliction is ever painful to a stranger. how much more painful to us, knowing, as we did, that our countrymen—that we—had been the partial agents of this calamity! we hesitated a moment on the threshold.
“gentlemen, we must return for a moment: we have been the bearers of evil tidings—let us offer such consolation as we may think of. come!”
