The desert literally blew into the house.
And now we saw a singular phenomenon.

In the late afternoon of each day, a hot steam would collect over the face of the river, then slowly rise, and floating over the length and breadth of this wretched hamlet of Ehrenberg, descend upon and envelop us.

Thus we wilted and perspired, and had one part of the vapor bath without its bracing concomitant of the cool shower.

In a half hour it was gone, but always left me prostrate; then Jack gave me milk punch, if milk was at hand, or sherry and egg, or something to bring me up to normal again.

We got to dread the steam so; it was the climax of the long hot day and was peculiar to that part of the river.