138 



Kindled in the hollow root, it roared up- 

 wards like a furnace. All the huge top fell 

 rent and riven as it touched the earth. 

 Part of the stout shell defied the flame, and 

 stands blackened, leafless, branchless an 

 obelisk of ruin. 



Through a hollow in its base you may 

 walk upright. A rough blanket curtains it. 

 Within you find a locker with great store 

 of towels and bathing-sheets. Wrap you 

 quickly in one, and run, barefoot, to the pool,, 

 there to plunge and lave you to your soul 

 and body's content. 



Wade, float, splash. The pool at its deep- 

 est comes but well under your chin. There 

 you may drop all hampering vesture, to 

 clothe yourself luxuriously with water. Ah ! 

 the creamy, thrilling chill of it. Involunta- 

 rily you laugh aloud, flinging handfuls of 

 diamond drops high above your head that 

 the filtering sun-rays may turn them all to 

 rainbow-;. 



Vagrant rays are they, dripping in through 

 the bank's thick leafage. But overhead you 

 see the sky. Behold ! there, too, is a rain- 

 bow vivid, yet broken against scurrying 

 clouds that chase one the other out of a 

 darkening west. What saith the weather- 

 prophet 



