Angels and Women (1924)

210 ANGELS AND WOMENwaters still rose rapidly along the hill-sides.We breathed more freely and our fatherNoah looked after the frightened beasts,from whom we had heard occasional moansof pain and fear. At length, with halfavertedgaze, we ventured to again approachthe window. O vision of gloom! Theheavens were gathering blackness and heavymasses of cloud were driving across themurky sky. The lurid moon was drownedin a black, watery mist; its feeble sickly lightrevealed the dim outlines of the horror bywhich we were surrounded. We were driftingnear a mountain of unfamiliar outline,whose top was crowded with living beingsin every attitude and aspect of despair.Women and children there were none.Their feeble natures had yielded long beforethis terrible consummation. But men andDarvands, animals, birds, serpents, were allcrowded in indistinguishable confusion.Some sat in motionless apathy, with despairingfaces upturned to the pall-like sky.