ISLANDS 41 



fascinating discovery of motion was that of the 

 water's edge. To the eye there were neither 

 waves nor ripples, but careful scrutiny through 

 the strong prisms showed a rhythmical approach 

 and receding, a gentle breathhke pulsation which 

 regularly darkened and uncovered a thread of 

 sand. I forgot the busy little town on the other 

 side of the island, the commerce and coaling 

 and the distant echo of war, and giving a last 

 look at the tarnished turquoise pool, the resent- 

 ment of financial acquisition of such beauty 

 softened, and I felt glad that I had indirectly 

 some small tithe of ownership, as well as the 

 complete memory monopoly of the glories of 

 this passing day. 



As I made my way down the ravine, the 

 fascinating island hzards scrambled about or 

 watched me knowingly from rock or tree-trunk. 

 As usual I wrecked my net in striving to sweep 

 them into it, and bruised my fingers in vain 

 efforts to seize their slender forms. Rarely I 

 succeeded; usually I found but a bit of tail in 

 my fingers, or a handful of loose bark, while, 

 just out of reach, they would halt and look me 

 over derisively with their bright intelligent eyes. 

 At the roadside I came suddenly upon a little 



