BREYDON IN SPRINGTIME 75 



cradle, and tugging now and again at her moorings, and to 

 listen to the waves lapping and gurgling around her ; but 

 things began to be less erratic as the tide fell off the flats, 

 and the boat lowered herself by degrees as the water poured 

 out of the drain. The wind still hummed mournfully I 

 rather liked it around the chimney, and rattled the poles 

 and gear lashed upon the roof outside. 



From cupboard and " frail " and pan and saucepan came 

 forth excellently fried eel, cooked potato, bread, and table 

 requisites, and a right royal supper we made, plain and 

 homely, substantial and sweet, for which, and a sharpened 

 appetite, we were duly thankful. Besides the eels, we had a 

 half-score of dainty smelts, and a few not despicable vivi- 

 parous blennies that had been scooped in yesterday in Jary's 

 draw-net up the Duffell's drain. 



Pleasant chat and note comparison passed away a profit- 

 able hour, and long before moon-up two tired Breydoners 

 lay and remained sound asleep on either settle until the 

 rocking of the boat woke us early in the morning, when the 

 waves came rollicking over the submerged flats and lapped 

 her into dancing once again. 



The morning broke fairly fine, and the rain had ceased ; 

 so while Jary saw to the frying of some rashers of bacon, 

 and got the coffee on the way, I stepped outside and had a 

 look round with his glasses. By this time the flat eastward 

 of us had begun to show bare in places near the edges. It 

 is odd, to me, that the flats generally are slightly higher at 

 their margins. Not infrequently have I essayed to quant my 

 way across in shallow water on an ebb tide, and managed 

 easily till within a few yards of some tide-worn drain, and 

 then stuck within boat's length of it. I have had to off 

 boots and socks in a twinkling and shove right merrily, for 

 every minute is precious. To a novice a little delay then 

 may mean staying there some hours, until the next tide 

 comes up to help him. Those who navigate Breydon be- 

 yond its main channels never do so but with flat-bottomed 

 punts. 



