[Segusoland-devel] again and again. As a rule water

[Larry B. <bu...@om...>]

Ernoon and evening. But not every rain cloud brings rain. Clouds of this
character often look very threatening, but all their display of thunder
and lightning is only bluff and bluster and ends in a fizzle with no
rain. After such a demonstration the clouds either bring wind and a
disagreeable dust storm, or, if a little rain starts to fall, the air is
so dry that it evaporates in mid air, and none of it ever reaches the
earth. In this fashion the clouds often threaten to do great things,
only to break their promise; and the anxious rancher stands and gazes at
the sky with longing eyes, only to be disappointed again and again. As a
rule water is scarce. A long procession of cloudless days merge into
weeks of dry weather; and the weeks glide into months during which time
the brazen sky refuses to yield one drop of moisture either of dew or
rain to the parched and thirsty earth. Even the rainy season is not
altogether reliable, but varies considerably one year with another in
the time of its appearance and continuance. The soil is sandy and porous
and readily absorbs water, except where the earth is tramped and packed
hard by the cattle. One peculiarity of the country as found marked upon
the maps, and that exists in fact, is the diminution and often complete
disappearance of a stream after it leaves the mountains. If not wholly
lost upon entering the valley the water soon sinks out of sight in the
sand and disappears and reappears at irregular intervals, until it loses
itself entirely in some underground channel and is seen no more. Many a
pleasant valley in the range country is made desolate by being destitute
of any surface spring or running brook, or water that can be found at