to more immediate things. He became aware of something. He rode up

beside his gaunt fellow. "Do you notice the horses?" he said in an

undertone.



The gaunt face looked interrogation.



"They don't like this wind," said the little man, and dropped behind

as the man with the silver bridle turned upon him.



"It's all right," said the gaunt-faced man.



They rode on again for a space in silence. The foremost two rode

downcast upon the trail, the hindmost man watched the haze that

crept down the vastness of the valley, nearer and nearer, and noted

how the wind grew in strength moment by moment. Far away on the left

he saw a line of dark bulks--wild hog perhaps, galloping down

the valley, but of that he said nothing, nor did he remark again upon

the uneasiness of the horses.



And then he saw first one and then a second great white ball,

a great shining white ball like a gigantic head of thistle-down,

that drove before the wind athwart the path. These balls soared

high in the air, and dropped and rose again and caught for a moment,

and hurried on and passed, but at the sight of them the restlessness

of the horses increased.



Then presently he saw that more of these drifting globes--and then

soon very many more--were hurrying towards him down the valley.



They became aware of a squealing. Athwart the path a huge boar rushed,

turning his head but for one instant to glance at them, and then

hurling on down the valley again. And at that, all three stopped

and sat in their saddles, staring into the thickening haze that

was coming upon them.



"If it were not for this thistle-down--" began the leader.



But now a big globe came drifting past within a score of yards

of them. It was really not an even sphere at all, but a vast, soft,

ragged, filmy thing, a sheet gathered by the corners, an aerial

jelly-fish, as it were, but rolling over and over as it advanced,

and trailing long, cobwebby threads and streamers that floated

in its wake.



"It isn't thistle-down," said the little man.



"I don't like the stuff," said the gaunt man.



And they looked at one another.





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