" In unbroken continuity the cloud
swept out of the pine forest, along the river, and past us, resembling an
elongated kaleidoscope, all dark colours in appearance; for as they swept
by the shimmering creatures constantly changed places--gliding downwards
as they flew, before dipping for a drink to rise again with swift,
glancing movement, shrilling that peculiar cry all the while. Like
clouds of drifting fog they swept by, and in such myriads that, even
after the Maluka began to time them, full fifteen minutes passed before
they began to straggle out, and twenty before the last few stragglers
were gone. Then, as we turned up stream to look after them, we found
that there the dense cloud was rising and fanning out over the tree tops.
The evening drink accomplished, it was time to think of food.
Dan welcomed the spectacle as an "impromptu bit of education. Learnt
something meself, even," he said with lordly superiority. "Been out-bush
forty years and never struck that before "; and later, as we returned to
camp, he declared it "just knocked spots off De Rougemont.
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