n reaching the zenith, whence it
spread horizontally over the rest of the heavens. It had now its various
stages. The tempest formation was visible, like the strata in the side
of a trench. It was possible to distinguish the layers of the rain from
the beds of hail. There was no lightning, but a horrible, diffused
glare; for the idea of horror may be attached to light. The vague
breathing of the storm was audible; the silence was broken by an obscure
palpitation. Gilliatt, silent also, watched the giant blocks of vapour
grouping themselves overhead forming the shapeless mass of clouds. Upon
the horizon brooded and lengthened out a band of mist of ashen hue; in
the zenith, another band of lead colour. Pale, ragged fragments of cloud
hung from the great mass above upon the mist below. The pile of cloud
which formed the background was wan, dull, gloomy. A thin, whitish
transverse cloud, coming no one could tell whither, cut the high dark
wall obliquely from north to south. One of the extremities of this
cloud trailed along the surface of the sea. At the point where it
touched the waters, a dense red vapour was visible in the midst of the
darkness. Below it, smaller clouds, quite black and very low, were
flying as if bewildered or moved by opposite currents of air. The
immense cloud beyond increased from all points at once, darkened the
eclipse, and continued to spread its sombre pall. In the east, behind
Gilliatt, there was only one clear porch in the heavens, which was
rapidly being closed. Without any feeling of wind abroad, a strange
flight of grey downy particles seemed to pass; they were fine and
scattered as if some gigantic bird had been plucked of its plumage
behind the bank of cloud. A dark compact roof had gradually formed
itself, which on the verge of the horizon touched the sea, and mingled
in darkness with it. The beholder had a vague sense of something
advancing steadily towards him. It was vast, heavy, ominous. Suddenly an
immense peal of thunder burst upon the air.

Gilliatt himself felt the shock. The rude reality in the midst of that
visionary region has something in it terrific. The listener might fancy
that he hears something falling in the chamber of giants. No electric
flash accompanied the report. It was a blind peal. The silence was
profound again. There was an interval, as when combatants take up their
position. Then appeared slowly, one after the other, great shapeless
flashes; these flashes were