The shriek of the wind rose to a scream and then a roar.

The night became pitchy dark.

They could see nothing around them but a narrow circle of muddy waters heaving violently.

Under the far horizon in the south and west, low, sullen thunder began to mutter.

Suddenly the sky parted before a tremendous flash of lightning that blazed for a moment across the heavens and then went out, leaving the night darker than before.