entary spasm of horror
thrilling through the stoutest heart there, but it also at the same time
endowed them with a temporary access of almost supernatural energy; and
the four men at once started for the ship at a speed which, even at the
moment and to themselves, seemed incredible.

The distance they had to traverse was but short, a mere half-mile or so
perhaps; but to the runners it seemed, notwithstanding their speed, as
though they would _never_ reach their goal. The grass was long and
tangled, and rapid progress through it was possible only by a series of
leaps or bounds; any other mode of progression would simply have
resulted in their being tripped up at every other step. This, to men
unaccustomed to such exercise, was in itself a sufficiently fatiguing
process; but in addition to this they had to contend with the stifling
heat of the stagnant atmosphere, which had been oppressive enough even
whilst they had been in a condition of comparative inactivity; now it
seemed to completely sap their strength and cause their limbs to hang
heavy as lead about them. Then, too, the air had become so rarefied
that it seemed impossible to breathe, whilst the blood rushed to their
heads, and their hearts thumped against their ribs until it seemed as
though nature could bear the tremendous exertion no more, and that the
runners must drop dead upon the plain. Still, however, the men sped on,
the portentous aspect of the heavens serving as an effectual spur to
their flagging energies. The dark slate-coloured cloud had already
reached the zenith, deepening in tint meanwhile until it had grown
almost literally as black as ink. Presently a few great drops of hot
rain splashed down upon the panting runners; and, as they rounded the
end of the bush clump and came within view of the _Flying Fish_, a
blinding flash of lightning blazed out from the sable canopy overhead,
accompanied by a deafening peal of thunder which rattled and crashed and
boomed and rumbled and rolled until its echoes gradually died away in
the distance. A perfect deluge of rain almost immediately followed,
wetting the runners to the skin in an instant as effectually as though
they had been plunged into the sea. This lasted for perhaps ten
seconds, during which every object, even to the racing figures of their
companions, was hidden from view by the dense volume of falling water.
Then the rain ceased as abruptly as it had begun, the travellers finding
themsel