58 THE FRIENDSHIP OF NATURE 



with the flowering rush, following the 

 lanes and zigzagging across the mead- 

 ows; and in its wake trudge the sun- 

 flowers with their golden coronets. 

 The clethra bushes in the deep runnel 

 on either side of the lane, pluming 

 with spicy bloom, are latticed in and 

 out with white wreaths of clematis. 

 The sea-pink, spreading its carpet, 

 repeats the mallow's colour, and the 

 frail maritime Gerardia echoes it still 

 further. 



The falling tide has left bare the 

 edges of the creek, and in a slouching 

 boat the crabber feels his way between 

 the shoals, his net held low and his 

 eyes fixed on the sidling shadows under- 

 neath. On the marsh-islands mowers 

 gather up the rough, salt hay and pile it 

 on flat barges, and, with the rising tide, 

 float slowly inland on the water road, 

 like some strange hybrid wains, akin to 



