rolled with a dull roar, fringing the wet sands with many coloured
wreaths of sea-weed and delicate shells.  At the back the cliffs rose
in a kind of semi-circle, black and precipitous, to the height of
about a hundred feet, and flocks of white seagulls who had their
nests therein were constantly circling round, or flying seaward with
steadily expanded wings and discordant cries.  At the top of these
inhospitable-looking cliffs a line of pale green betrayed the
presence of vegetation, and from thence it spread inland into vast-
rolling pastures ending far away at the outskirts of the bush, above
which could be seen giant mountains with snow-covered ranges.  Over
all this strange contrast of savage arid coast and peaceful upland
there was a glaring red sky--not the delicate evanescent pink of an
ordinary sunset--but a fierce angry crimson which turned the wet
sands and dark expanse of ocean into the colour of blood.  Far away
westward, where the sun--a molten ball of fire--was sinking behind
the snow-clad peaks, frowned long lines of gloomy clouds--like
prison bars through which the sinking orb glowed fiercely.  Rising
from the east to the zenith of the sky was a huge black cloud
bearing a curious resemblance to a gigantic hand, the long lean
fingers of which were stretched threateningly out as if to grasp the