FLOTSAM AND JETSAM 195 



tivities would be no more of a marvel than the 

 jellyfish which moves through the sea and is itself 

 the very essence of water. Dry it, and there remain 

 neither bone nor tendons, disturbed organs nor 

 traces of blood, but only the faintest of ghstening 

 films, which disintegrates and blows away with the 

 first breath of air. Yet imbued with its ninety and 

 nine parts of salt water, it moves and contracts 

 and throws its poisoned darts, it swallows and 

 digests, and dimly sees and feels, it produces eggs 

 and strews them like chaff as it slowly vibrates on 

 its course. Yet so evanescent is it that it seems 

 like some organic mirage. The eye often misses 

 it altogether, looking straight on and through its 

 being, and finally locating it by its shadow. The 

 earth-wide basins of liquid gently sustain and ca- 

 pably support the host of beings who experience 

 life and death among the waves. In countless 

 ways each tiny creature is ministered to, and given 

 his chance to fight upward toward the unknown 

 caste-to-come which seems the sole object of the 

 existing of these lives. 



Important as water is to all higher creatures, its 

 actual astounding j)ercentage in tissues and organs 

 is more and more completely concealed from view. 

 But always we perceive new, unexpected qualities. 

 And when unusual demands are made they too are 

 granted. Creeping upon the mud and coral are 

 myriads of shellfish whose flesh would tempt every 

 passing fish. So when their need cries aloud for pro- 

 tection, the Father of Life comes to their aid. By 

 some strange, secret alchemy they draw from the 



