--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Down the mountain slopes, like a whirl of…" description: "\"“Down the mountain slopes, like a whirl of shining dust blown before the wind, a crimson, conoid cloud came dancing. Khemsa's dark face turned ashen; h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/robert-e-howard-3742_quote_down-the-mountain-slopes-like-a-whirl-of_1732507.jpg" --- # Down the mountain slopes, like a whirl of shining dust… ![“Down the mountain slopes, like a whirl of shining dust blown before the wind, a crimson, conoid cloud came dancing. Khemsa's dark face turned ashen; his hand began to tremble, then sank to his side. The girl beside him, sensing the change in him, stared at him inquiringly.” quote by Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/robert-e-howard-3742_quote_down-the-mountain-slopes-like-a-whirl-of_1732507.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/robert-e-howard-3742_quote_down-the-mountain-slopes-like-a-whirl-of_1732507.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/robert-e-howard-3742_quote_down-the-mountain-slopes-like-a-whirl-of_1732507.jpg) > ““Down the mountain slopes, like a whirl of shining dust blown before the wind, a crimson, conoid cloud came dancing. Khemsa's dark face turned ashen; his hand began to tremble, then sank to his side. The girl beside him, sensing the change in him, stared at him inquiringly.”” [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid scene shows a sudden, ominous change in a character, reflected in the environment and the reactions of others. **In simple terms:** A character’s mood shifts dramatically, and others notice. Key Takeaway Watch for subtle signs of change in others. Themes danger transformation perception environment emotion Mood tense foreboding dramatic Type narrative descriptive literary When to use this quote - battlefield - exploration - magical encounter - leadership assessment Key Concepts mythic fantasy character dynamics visual imagery Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize hidden distress in allies? - What cues signal a shift in a situation? A Different Perspective The description may exaggerate emotional cues, making interpretation subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change Stared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-stared-1442154/) [Cloud Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cloud-came-1442153/) [Dancing Khemsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing-khemsa-1442150/) [Khemsa Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/khemsa-dark-1442151/) [Turned Ashen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-ashen-1442152/) ## Related quotes > [“It came very fast and the sun went a dull yellow and then everything was gray and the sky was covered and the cloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/it-came-very-fast-and-the-sun-went-a-dull-yellow-and-then-everything/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More by Robert E. Howard > [Don't you think that as a people, Americans have less poetry, real poetry, in their souls than any other nations?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/don-t-you-think-that-as-a-people-americans-have-less-poetry-real/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I became a writer in spite of my environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-became-a-writer-in-spite-of-my-environments/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Over the souls of men spread the condor wings of colossal monsters and all manner of evil things prey upon the heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/over-the-souls-of-men-spread-the-condor-wings-of-colossal-monsters/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no life in the Abyss, save that which was incorporated in me," it tolled. "Nor was there light, nor motion, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-life-in-the-abyss-save-that-which-was-incorporated-in-me/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“That's the way with civilized men. When they can't explain something by their half-baked science, they refuse to believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/that-s-the-way-with-civilized-men-when-they-can-t-explain-something/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, & am content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-live-i-burn-with-life-i-love-i-slay-am-content/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Coming, as I do, from mountain folk on one side and sea followers on the other, there are few old songs of the hills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/coming-as-i-do-from-mountain-folk-on-one-side-and-sea-followers-on/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“A true fanatic, his promptings were reasons enough for his actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/a-true-fanatic-his-promptings-were-reasons-enough-for-his-actions/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I have put off the past like a worn-out cloak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-have-put-off-the-past-like-a-worn-out-cloak/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Again the governor knelt, for part of his wisdom was the knowledge that a woman in such an emotional tempest is as perilous as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/again-the-governor-knelt-for-part-of-his-wisdom-was-the-knowledge/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“When you allow the elevation of a man, one can be sure that you'll profit by his advancement. I've earned everything I've won, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/when-you-allow-the-elevation-of-a-man-one-can-be-sure-that-you-ll/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I never saw a man fight as Conan fought. He put his back to the courtyard wall, and before they overpowered him the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-never-saw-a-man-fight-as-conan-fought-he-put-his-back-to-the/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no explaining this thing, but it was so. he was on Xapur, and that fantastic heap of towering masonry was on Xapur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-explaining-this-thing-but-it-was-so-he-was-on-xapur-and/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Gleaming shell of an outworn lie; fable of Right divine— You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/gleaming-shell-of-an-outworn-lie-fable-of-right-divine-you-gained/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Civilization is a natural and inevitable consequence - whether good or evil I am not prepared to state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/civilization-is-a-natural-and-inevitable-consequence-whether-good-or/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) [Explore all 123 Robert E. Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Down the mountain slopes, like a whirl of shining dust blown before the wind, a crimson, conoid cloud came dancing. Khemsa's dark face turned ashen; his hand began to tremble, then sank to his side. The girl beside him, sensing the change in him, stared at him inquiringly.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. 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