BROOK MAGIC 



I a few days before come down stream 

 to the deep pool above and carried off a 

 string of perch, sunfish, pouts, and an 

 eel? Had not the water snake also a 

 right to his dinner? 



I dropped my rock fragments, but 

 there was no longer pleasure in waiting 

 to woo the demure coquetry of the de- 

 moiselles. The serpent had entered Eden 

 and the man was driven forth. I lin- 

 gered only long enough to see the grace 

 and strength of the snake as he glided 

 over the sill of the old dam, now black 

 and sinuous, now giving me a glimpse 

 of the vivid red of the under parts of 

 his body, but always keeping his grip 

 secure on the little sunfish whom he 

 was taking away to luncheon with 

 him. 



I climbed out of the glen, glad to go 

 for once, but at the top of the rock 

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