Faithful Assistant with the fact. Proudly reveal- 

 ing the spider-crabs, I related in glowing terms the 

 circumstance in which I came upon this rare and 

 fortunate find. No detail was too trivial to omit 

 relating in this signal event. 



Now always in previous discoveries, she had 

 made my enthusiasm her own. But this time I was 

 heard with apparent apathy; my efforts to interest 

 her meant nothing; and I wondered at the cause. 

 But, no, a lurking twinkle in her eye undeceived 

 me. Yet, without venturing a word in reply, she 

 turned away and walked several dozen paces along 

 the water's edge where she seemed to be looking 

 for something on the sands. Obviously it was a 

 mark, for here she paused, her white sports dress 

 and canvas shoes showing up sharp and bright in 

 the magnificent moonlight. She found it. Then, 

 stepping into the water, she waded straight out to 

 a point a few yards distant where the depth was 

 about up to her knees. 



With ever increasing wonder, I continued to 

 watch. Nor was the motive of her capricious action 

 any clearer when I saw her stoop and try to dis- 

 lodge a heavy stone from where it was submerged. 

 Finally she managed to move it. Whereupon her 



[215] 



