94 STUDIES OF NATURE 



even for a moment was to sleep, and then to 

 fall into great torture. 



About noon the wind changes, and the sea 

 clears rapidly, becoming its own bright blue 

 again. On the shore I meet the Provost. 

 ' Well, Provost, how about the jelly-fish ? What 

 brings them here is it the wind ? ' The 

 Provost would sooner perish than fail to give 

 a reason when challenged. The mysteries of 

 nature and of theology are all open to him, and 

 he answers without hesitation, ' It's nae the wind 

 at a' it's this ' (in a low whisper) : ' August is 

 just the breeding month for a' craytures on land 

 and sea. The air's full o' strange flies and the 

 water's swarming wi' queer things, the like o' 

 which ye'll never see at any ither time; an' 

 that's the reason o' it.' If the Provost had 

 solved the riddle of the Sphinx, he could not 

 have given a prouder toss to his white head 

 or looked with more pity upon the ignorant 

 Southron who was standing by his side. 



