164 The Life of the Spider 



unwinds it. Even so is the smoke from the 

 bowl of a pipe whirled up in the air. 



This floating thread has but to touch any 

 object in the neighbourhood and it will remain 

 fixed to it. The suspension-bridge is thrown ; 

 and the Spider can set out. The South- 

 American Indians are said to cross the abysses 

 of the Cordilleras in travelling-cradles made of 

 twisted creepers ; the little Spider passes 

 through space on the invisible and the im- 

 ponderable. 



But to carry the end of the floating thread 

 elsewhither a draught is needed. At this 

 moment, the draught exists between the door 

 of my study and the window, both of which 

 are open. It is so slight that I do not feel 

 it ; I only know of it by the smoke from my 

 pipe, curhng softly in that direction. Cold air 

 enters from without through the door ; warm 

 air escapes from the room through the window. 

 This is the draught that carries the threads 

 with it and enables the Spiders to embark upon 

 their journey. 



I get rid of it by closing both apertures and 

 I break off any communication by passing my 



