*'MICROBATSr 155 



London hotels that they do not serve goblets 

 of this pernicious drink to their guests. I 

 remember reading in an old magazine — I think 

 of about 1802 — an account of the tubing from 

 a very cold spring near the '' city prison " in 

 New York, and it was mentioned as an especial 

 advantage for those who lived at a considerable 

 distance, that as the water had so far to run in 

 the logs, ^'it lost somewhat of its coldness as 

 when first taken from the spring." 



I stopped to talk with a man who appeared 

 to be directing some others at the lake, and 

 congratulated him on the successful harvest of 

 the crop. ** Jes' so, jes' so," he said. ''Well, 

 yes, it will be a big thing this year — our. folks 

 can get any price they vv^ant." 



"How is that?" I asked. 



" Why, on account of them microbats in the 

 North River ice. It's all pizen, and nobody 

 will use it. Ours hasn't got any of 'em in it." 



" Well, what's the matter with the North 

 River ice ? " 



** Microbats, didn't I tell you ! You get a 

 microscope and examine a drop of that water: 

 there's ten million microbats in it, and every 

 one of 'em is a snake. They lay so clost to- 

 gether that they keep 'emselves warm, and 



