374 



THE WHITE PELICAN 



In the meantime a storm which on shore occasioned both 

 loss of life and property, developed, and we found it impos- 

 sible to leave the island. A tent-fly, brought for such an 

 emergency, was rigged over a pole supported at one end by 

 a camera tripod and at the other by crossed oars, and my 

 boatman and I passed the night clinging to this pole to pre- 

 vent our shelter from being blown into the lake. 



" A tent-fly .... supported at one end by a camera tripod " 



A Pelican 's nest of heaped up sand and pebbles offered 

 the only seat not under water and, after removing the three 

 eggs it contained to another nest, I gratefully occupied it, 

 with thanks to the bird whose instinct had prompted it to 

 build a home so far above water level. 



Toward morning the thunder and lightning ceased and 

 the rain showed less resemblance to a deluge, but the head 

 wind continued. We could not induce a fire to burn and we 



