Behold the first curse!" said Marut solemnly.
I stared at him, but as he chose to believe that a very unusual hailstorm was a visitation from heaven I did not think it worth while arguing the point.

Only I wondered if he really did believe this.

Then I remembered that such an event was said to have afflicted the old Egyptians in the hour of their pride because they would not "let the people go." Well, these blackguardedly Black Kendah were certainly worse than the Egyptians can ever have been; also they would not let _us_ go.

It was not wonderful therefore that Marut should be the victim of phantasies on the matter.
Not until the following morning did we come to understand the full extent of the calamity which had overtaken the Black Kendah.

I think I have said that their crops this year were magnificent and just ripening to harvest.