The Mighty Deep 



Here is a region of solid limestone rocks, 

 made of reef-coral, which has been ground 

 and pounded by the waves, and afterwards 

 cemented firmly together. We are getting into 

 levels where the waves have power. 



Presently the firm limestone is exchanged for 

 coral mud, and later that gives place to reef-sand. 

 By this time we have around us, not only living 

 animals but living sea-weeds, which fact tells of 

 our nearness to sunlight. It may still seem dark 

 to us, but some light must be able to filter 

 through, or plant-life could not exist. 



A few more fathoms of ascent, and we too 

 are aware of light dim and faint at first, 

 yet steadily increasing. 



Shall we step out into the fresh air, the radiant 

 sunshine, of a South-Sea coral island into a 

 world of light and life and beauty, all the 

 fairer and the sweeter in its contrast with 

 those gloomy under-ocean regions through which 

 we have been wandering ? 



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