They would by this time have laid waste the whole country-- perhaps to the water or beyond it! It would be a great risk going in that direction.
Northward lay the Kalihari desert.

It would be hopeless to steer north.
Von Bloom knew of no oasis in the desert.

Besides the locusts had come from the north.

They were drifting southward when first seen; and from the time they had been observed passing in this last direction, they had no doubt ere this wasted the plains far to the south.
The thoughts of the field-cornet were now turned to the west.

It is true the swarm had last approached from the west; but Von Bloom fancied that they had first come down from the north, and that the sudden veering round of the wind had caused them to change direction.