The hospital corps was so busy that Gilbert could not be carried back of the firing line for some time. Feeling that there would be no more fighting that day, Ben decided to remain by his old chum, and requested Sorrel to do likewise, leaving the others to accompany Major Morris back to the command proper. In the meantime, a skirmish line was stretched to the north of the cane-brake, that the 223 insurgents might not regain any of the lost territory.
It was frightfully hot, but scarcely had Major Morris left with his party than a faint breeze sprang up which gradually increased to a fair-sized wind. Making Gilbert as comfortable as possible under some of the tallest of the cane, Ben and Sorrel sat down beside him to do what they could to help him forget his pain.
The three had been sitting in the shade for the best part of half an hour, and Sorrel was sharpening his knife on the side leather of his shoe, when, glancing up, Ben noticed a peculiar cloud in the sky overhead.
“That looks rather queer,” he remarked. “Does that denote a wind-storm, Sorrel?”
“It denotes something, that’s sartin,” responded the mountaineer, surveying the cloud with care. “It’s something I ain’t seed out yere yit,” and he leaped to his feet.
The cloud was about as large as a barrel in appearance, and of a deep black color. It seemed to be whirling around and around, and as it came forward began to expand. Then it shot off to the southward, but not out of sight.
“I’m glad it’s gone,” said Gilbert, who had roused up to watch the strange thing. “I don’t want to get caught in a western cyclone—and that cloud looks like those I have heard described.”
“The rainy season is coming on here, and I presume we are bound to have more or less tornadoes,” answered Ben. “They say that last year they were something awful along the seacoast.”
The cloud was circling around the southern horizon, but now it turned once again and came slowly toward them. While it was yet quarter of a mile away, it shot down to earth and a strange humming sound reached their ears, followed by a whistling that caused each of them to shiver.