170 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



end, and there is justification for the opinion that the other 

 end is the tail. Possibly, after all, this may not be a true 

 variety of beche-de-mer. In that case an apology to the 

 rest of the tribe is necessary ; though the mop-like face 

 betrays a strong family likeness. 



If this dolefully helpless creature be lifted by the 

 middle on a stick, its liquid contents are instantly separated, 

 forming distended, high-pressure blobs at each end of the 

 empty, flabby shrunken skin. Though it suffers this 

 experiment placidly, being incapable of the feeblest resist- 

 ance, it has the primordial gift of care of itself. Twists 

 purposely made to test its degree of intelligence are artfully 

 straightened out, and the eagerness and hurry with which 

 water is forced throughout empty parts show that life is 

 both sweet and precious. And what is the value of life 

 to an animal of such homely organism and so few wants ? 

 And under what charter of rights does it slink among the 

 coral and weed affrighting God-fearing man under the 

 cloak of his first subtle enemy ? 



