It was in the splendour of the red roses and carnations.

It passed like a moving star into the superb abundance, the imperial opulence of the royal lilies.
It was advancing slowly, but there was no pause.

He held his breath, not daring to raise his head.

It passed beyond the limits of the Seed ranch, and entered the shade at the foot of the hill below him.

Would it come farther than this?
Here it had always stopped hitherto, stopped for a moment, and then, in spite of his efforts, had slipped from his grasp and faded back into the night.