106 BUSH DAYS 



felt that to mix and mingle with the moving crowd would be 

 a weariness to flesh and spirit. I loved to see them enjoying 

 their holiday in their own way, but I wanted to enjoy my 

 holiday in mine and mine was a quieter and more peaceful 

 way. 



" Let us go out to the Reef," I said, " There we are sure 

 to find quietness." 



So to the Reef we went ; out from the village by the tram 

 which leads to the northern end of the beach; over the hill, 

 and through the Camp City on the other side, by a grass grown 

 track to the third beach ; across another cliff path more rugged 

 than before, along still another beach, and at last to the Reef 

 itself. 



Have you ever spent an hour on a reef when the tide is 

 out? Have you paddled about amongst the fairy pools, and 

 watched the little fishes dart through the weeds, or the old 

 crabs scuttle away into the crevices? Have you seen the sea 

 anemones bloom in their own sea gardens, and watched the 

 star-fish gleaming beneath on the pale, clear sand? If you 

 haven't done all this even at the risk of scratched feet and 

 draggled skirts then you have missed a lot of the joy of 

 living. You may be absolutely ignorant of the wild life that 

 exists there, you may not know a limpet from a tadpole ; but 

 if you give youself up to it, the charm of the reef will fold you 

 and hold you with a pow r er too subtle for words. And if you 

 have the tiniest knowledge of the wonders to be found amongst 



