NONSUCH 



and rose up and forward, soaring slowly through 

 the water, and before I began to sink I passed 

 cleanly through the school — through a great oval 

 window, with a sinuous crack overhead marking the 

 track of the hose. There were fish in myriads above, 

 on all sides and beneath me. I caught hold of an out- 

 jutting crag far up the steep, submarine slope of 

 the islet, and twisted quickly around in time to see 

 the window narrow to a tall loop-hole, contract to a 

 slit, and then mend itself — a living tapestry more 

 beautiful than any fashioned on human looms, or 

 imagined in any fairy tale of old. 



Before we have the complete solution of the whys 

 and wherefores of herding and flocking and school- 

 ing, there must be a great deal of uncomfortable 

 climbing and diving, hiding in unpleasant places, 

 getting wet and hot and cramped and weary. And 

 then, after we have tried to be sandpipers and ants, 

 silversides and mackerel, we may attain to the 

 honor of such knowledge as our prejudiced, but 

 humbled minds will permit. 



252 



