THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER 119 



inclination to dive out of harm's way* Their clinging, 

 crowding tendency serves but to incommode and 

 obstruct her. And where is the male protector t 

 Alas for the romance of chivalry ! When the boat 

 comes near he deliberately dives, and, after the usual 

 protracted wait, reappears in another part of the lake, 

 away from the danger that alarms and threatens 

 the defenceless trio. But the mother remains and 

 urges the encumbering young things to speed. 

 They do make some headway, though slowly, 

 toward the marshy bay from which they recently 

 emerged with so much loud, wild laughter. The 

 indifference of the fisherman and the guide do not 

 reassure them, and they never cease their entangled 

 struggle till lost to sight in the winding lagoon. 



