264 I N A G U A 



all my strength, I would be swiftly and surely drifted to the 

 far end of the lake. 



Throwing caution to the winds and risking everything on 

 the slim hope of maintaining balance I rose to my feet and 

 pushed away. Several times I nearly capsized and only saved 

 the boat by quickly jumping overboard and chmbing in again. 

 But presently I got the hang of the motion so that by flexing 

 my knees and giving myself up to the roll of the waves I was 

 able to keep upright very nicely. 



By putting all my reserve into the task I crossed the deep 

 section and reached a place where the water was shoal again. 

 I had been so busy with the boat that I had not thought to 

 look for flamingos and when I jumped overboard and glanced 

 at the horizon I was elated at what I saw. The whole northern 

 sector was lined with birds. Regiment after regiment trooped 

 across the skyhne. They were still far distant but I could see 

 that this congregation surpassed anything I had yet witnessed. 



The lake bottom shoaled very gradually until it indefinably 

 merged with the dry land where the flocks were standing. 

 This made progress much easier and the majesty of the sight 

 revived my sagging spirits. Soon I was within a mile of their 

 outposts. These retreated at a pace equal to my approach, 

 sending up series after series of low notes. The main flock 

 at first paid little attention, but as I came closer, greater and 

 greater numbers of loosely knit companies began trooping 

 toward the main body. A vast murmuring began to fill the 

 air. It was mournful and wild in its tenor and once again I 

 could feel the flesh crawl on the nape of my neck. The sun 

 slid behind a cloud and the great scarlet army turned into a 

 mass of seething red, an angry shade suggestive of the color 

 of blood. 



When I was about a hundred yards away all motion in the 

 colony ceased and every bird stood quiescent, lined up in a 



