midday
Sky and horizon drew so close that the _ Elsinore _ seemed on the verge of being absorbed , sucked in by it , sucked up by it . Then from zenith to horizon the sky was cracked with forked lightning , and the wet atmosphere turned to a horrid green . The rain , beginning gently , in dead calm , grew into a deluge of enormous streaming drops . It grew darker and darker , a green darkness , and in the cabin , although it was midday , Wada and the steward lighted lamps . The lightning came closer and closer , until the ship was enveloped in it . The green darkness was continually a-tremble with flame , through which broke greater illuminations of forked lightning . These became more violent as the rain lessened , and , so absolutely were we centred in this electrical maelstrom , there was no connecting any chain or flash or fork of lightning with any particular thunder-clap .