NATURAL SELECTION 49 



as to burst their air bladders. They wab- 

 bled queerly, then flopped over and died. 



Rebellion began to brew. Black looks fol- 

 lowed his movements, and groups of three 

 and four knotted together here and there as 

 if in consultation. But to each and all his 

 bearing was a bold challenge of force. 

 Alone of all the school Gloria seemed to 

 fear him not at all. Indeed, it was as though 

 his unconquerable temper drew from her 

 an attitude of submission, a submission born 

 not of fear but of admiration. As on an- 

 other occasion, so now she swam up to him 

 and touched his side lightly, her body 

 squaring gracefully with his. 



Then came real winter. Snow flurried to 

 the black water. Waves were lashed by a 

 wind that whistled fiercely among the bare 

 trees. The fish grew comatose. Their 

 bodies chilled, energy seemed to vanish, 

 and they lay close down as in a stupor. 



Two months they remained thus, feed- 

 ing as though from within. Then great 

 cosmic voices whispered to the world that 

 spring was approaching. Unseen forces 

 broke the bonds of winter and liberated the 

 waters. 



