BATTLEFIELD OF THE SHORE 



moored for life by a nexus of silken cables, can 

 cut those farther aft, and throw out fresh ones 

 forward and to starboard, and so warp themselves 

 slowly toward the promised land. We might go on 

 through the whole animal kingdom, and find still 

 more exciting units in the front-line trenches. And 

 always we must credit these pioneers with having 

 solved in this maelstrom zone all the primary prob- 

 lems of existence — the finding and securing of a 

 foothold, sufficient oxygen in water or air, safety 

 from enemies, access to and ability to woo a mate, 

 and nursery sanctuary for their offspring. 



Tidepools are both a source of help and an added 

 scene of difficulties. When the tide goes out they 

 remain as a welcome oasis — for them tides do not 

 exist. But when a warrior from the sea puts his 

 trust in them he finds his troubles multiplied — the 

 sun pours down and heats the water beyond all 

 bearing, or the rain changes them from salt to brack- 

 ish, and from brackish to fresh. Or if they are very 

 high upon the rocks they become stagnant between 

 spring tides. 



Tidepools raise false hopes which end all prog- 

 ress. For fish like gobies they have always been a 

 welcome halfway house of rest — a littoral dak 

 bungalow — but so pleasant withal that these and 

 other fish have lingered in them too long. They are 

 inured to fresh water, to excess of heat, to stag- 

 nancy, but to maintain themselves they have sacri- 

 ficed their nether paired fins to the fashioning of a 

 vacuum cup, and thus ended all hope of future legs. 



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