Hume, Fergus: The Sealed Message. v1. 29 Jul 2016
 

Fergus Hume: Born : 1859 Jul 8 England Lived : Thundersley, Essex, England: Died : 1932 Jul 12
Thundersley, Essex, England

Excerpt
It was a sultry July afternoon, and in the azure arch of the firmament flamed an unclouded sun. The corn was ripening to a rich yellow in some meadows, and the newly mown hay in others was being piled on lumbering wains by perspiring laborers. The red earth of the sunken lanes was caked, and their blossoming hedges were burnt up by the merciless heat. Under spreading foliage, or kneedeep in rapidly drying pools, stood weary cattle, switching lazy tails to brush away the teasing flies. Honeybees, ostentatiously industrious, buzzed noisily from flower to flower, and the sleepy birds twittered faintly midst the grateful shade of leaves. The land was parched for want of rain, and the languid hours dragged on slowly to the wishedfor evening. On some such day, long ago, must Elijah have sent his servant up the mount to watch for the growing of the small black cloud.