The Mighty Deep 



becomes, after a pelting shower, following upon 

 a drought. 



No wonder, for the rain has washed the 

 roof, and has carried off a supply of collected 

 dust and soot. Not the roofs of houses alone, 

 but the streets, the walls, the pavements, in a 

 town — the trees, hedges, grass, roads, in the 

 country — are all relieved of dusty layers, while, 

 if the rain be heavy enough, sand and soil also 

 are swept away. 



Sometimes they are only taken to a lower 

 level in the same neighbourhood, but large 

 quantities find their way Into the drains or 

 streamlets, which join bigger brooks, and thus 

 reach the nearest river, finally joining the sea. 



Any moving stream is able to carry along 

 floating materials, which in still water would 

 sink to the bottom. The faster the current 

 the heavier is the weight which It can support. 

 A mountain torrent conveys pebbles, grinding 

 them to a smaller size as it rushes alonor ; and 

 some of the more powerful torrents transport 

 even great stones. 



If one is sceptical about this lifting power of 

 water, and if one cannot go to the mountains 

 to see for oneself, the next best thing is to watch 

 the breaking of waves upon a shingly beach. 



104 



