CHAPTER VIII 



The Wind 



It was well that I did not tarry much longer, for the current 

 was swinging through the channel at a quickened pace and was 

 pouring swiftly toward the open reef. Only by swimming with 

 my utmost strength did I succeed in reaching the last bar a 

 few feet from the place where it terminated. Beyond this bar 

 the lagoon opened up into a wide expanse of water where it 

 deepened considerably; if I had not made this point as soon 

 as I did I would have had a long struggle before reaching shore 

 again. As it was I arrived nearly exhausted. Constantly glancing 

 over my shoulder I kept a watch for the shark but the beast 

 did not put in an appearance. I was much reHeved when I 

 waded wearily ashore and slumped on the sand near my clothes 

 to rest. 



While I relaxed I got out the vial of formol and the syringe 

 and injected the group of Anolis and placed their corpses in 

 the jar for safe keeping. I was thus engaged when a series of 

 strange croaking calls attracted my attention. Looking up I 

 saw a long wedge-shaped formation of roseate spoonbills flying 

 between the mainland and the cay. Like geese they were in 

 military formation, each bird flapping a little to one side and 

 close behind the individual preceding so as to take advantage 

 of the aerial waves pushed aside by the advancing flock. Their 

 wing beats were slow and graceful and occasionally the leader 

 set his wings and ghded, each spoonbill in succession doing 

 likewise in perfectly timed sequence until the entire flock 

 skimmed motionless just above the water's surface. Then the 

 birds would resume their flappings, starting at the front end 



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