ISLANDS 66 



nescence, while, rolling and drifting along 

 through this path of light came now and then 

 great balls of clear, pure fire touched with 

 emerald flames, some huge jelly or fish, or sar- 

 gasso weed incrusted with noctiluca. Every- 

 where throughout the narrow zone of visibility 

 were flickering constellations, suns and planets 

 of momentary life, dying within the second in 

 which they flashed into sight. Once Orion left 

 a distinct memory on the retina — instantly to 

 vanish forever. Perhaps to some unimaginably 

 distant and unknown god, our world system 

 may appear as fleeting. To my eyes it seemed 

 as if I looked at the reflections of constella- 

 tions which no longer swung across the heavens 

 — shadows of shadows. 



Then four bells struck — silveryly — and I 

 knew that time still existed. 



