50 NEIGHBOURS UNKNOWN 



oily ripple trailing back from it on either side, 

 like the outline of a comet's tail. As it 

 approached, in the apex of the parabola 

 could be seen a minute black nose, with two 

 bright, dark little eyes just behind it. It was 

 a small water-rat, voyaging adventurously 

 out from its narrow inland haunts among the 

 lilies. 



The great heron eyed its approach. To 

 the swimmer, no doubt, the blue-grey, im- 

 mobile shape at the extremity of the sand- 

 spit looked like some weather-beaten post, 

 placed there by man for his inexplicable 

 convenience in regard to hitching boats. 

 But presently, something strange in the shape 

 of the post seemed to strike the little voyager's 

 attention. He stopped. Perhaps he saw the 

 menacing glitter of that yellow, unwinking 

 stare. After a moment of wavering irresolu- 

 tion, he changed his course, swam straight 

 across channel, scrambled out upon the wet 

 mud of the further shore, and vanished among 

 the pale root-stalks of the sedge. The heron 

 was savage with disappointment ; but no 

 slightest movement betrayed his anger, save 

 that the pinkish film of the lower lid blinked 

 up once, as it were with a snap, over each 

 implacable eye. His time would come which 

 faith is that which supports all those who 



