76 STUDIES OF NATURE 



gauzy film, over the purple rocks. In five 

 minutes there was a refreshing patter of rain 

 upon our faces ; in five minutes more the hot 

 sun had dried up the moisture. And this was 

 repeated again and again while we tossed gently 

 up and down in the boat. Then the clouds all 

 disappeared, and the day settled into one of 

 great heat. 



In the afternoon I am out in the boat again, 

 but this time alone. It is too hot to lie on the 

 rocks, and on the water there is just a faint 

 breeze. Having pulled myself out of the way of 

 other craft, I take in the oars and let the boat 

 move and drift as it will ; or, rather, as the 

 waves will. Leaning idly over the stern what a 

 fairy region I see under me ! I am not far from 

 the shore, but the water is about twenty feet 

 deep. Some current carries me gently forward ; 

 and from beneath the boat long streamers of 

 weed trail for many yards in length. They are 

 like round cords, brown in colour, but surrounded 



