Presently, however, it seemed to me that the whole country in the far distance was covered with a black mantle, _which appeared to be made up of living creatures_.
Steadily and rapidly this great mysterious wave swept along towards us; and seeing that I was both puzzled and alarmed, Yamba gave me to understand that _we should presently be surrounded by myriads of rats_, stretching away in every direction like a living sea.

The phenomenon was evidently known to Yamba, and she went on to explain that these creatures were migrating from the lowlands to the mountains, knowing by instinct that the season of the great floods was at hand.

That weird and extraordinary sight will live in my memory for ever.

I question whether a spectacle so fantastic and awe-inspiring was ever dealt with, even in the pages of quasi-scientific fiction.

It was impossible for me to observe in what order the rats were advancing, on account of the great stretch of country which they covered.