"Ho! ho!" cried Ivanoff.
When they had landed and were plodding through the wet sand, the gloom
became more intense.
"We're in for it, now."
Nearer, ever nearer to earth the huge cloud approached, like some
dreadful grey-bellied monster. There was a sudden gust of wind, and
leaves and dust were whirled round and round. Then, a deafening crash,
as if the heavens were cleft asunder, when the lightning blazed and the
thunder broke.
"Oho--ho--ho!" shouted Sanine, trying to outvie the clamour of the
storm. But his voice, even to himself, was inaudible.
When they reached the fields, it was quite dark. Their pathway was lit
by vivid flashes, and the thunder never ceased.
"Oh! Ha! Ho!" shouted Sanine.
"What's that?" cried Ivanoff.
At that moment a vivid flash revealed to him Sanine's radiant face, the
only answer to his question. Then, a second flash showed Sanine, with
arms outstretched, gleefully apostrophizing the tempest.