I was looking about for sand-tracks and shells, and I noticed that the grass had grown much more luxuriously at one level than it did lower down. This grass was last year's and was now yellow and dead and rustling like paper flowers.
“This,” said I to Hawk, “was last year's water-mark in the rainy season.”
“That's gospel,” said Hawk; “and what would you make out o' that observation?”
He smiled his queer whimsical smile.
“Why, I guess we shall be swamped out of this camp in a month's time.”
“Yes; practically the 'ole of this, up to this level, will be under water.”
“Then what's the good of starting to dig a big permanent hospital here when——?”
“Yours not to reason why,” said Hawk; “it's a way they have in the army; but I'm not bothering.”
Each section dug in shifts day after day until the men were worn out with digging.
Then the long, flat rain-clouds appeared one morning over the distant range of mountains.