ALONG THE WATERWAYS 57 



the brick -red milkweed monarchs hovered over a 

 jungle of their favorite flowers just beyond the 

 mill. 



The sun lay many hours to the west of noon 

 before we left our shelter. I sat leaning back 

 against the one-time straw rack, and dreamily wove 

 together thoughts of all the other lovely outdoor 

 days that were brought back by the picture now 

 before me. The river -voice murmured clearly as 

 it passed between the rocks, and I idly wondered 

 how long it would take the current now flowing 

 by in cool shade to reach and spread among the 

 open marshes near the sea, tropical gardens which, 

 at that season and hour, would give off visible and 

 blinding rays of heat. 



My companions were both sleeping. How 

 strangely sleep relaxes characteristics that will- 

 power gives to the faces both of man and of 

 beast. Flower Hat was but no! I'll not say it. 

 She may read this, which Nell will hardly do. Nell, 

 who, on the road, would pass for ten instead of 

 twenty, had shaken off her feed -bag and now stood 

 with closed eyes. Her somewhat whiskery chin 

 dropped in a foolish way, partly showing her lower 

 teeth, while her ears, usually so pert and mobile, 

 had lost nerve and direction , so that she appeared 



