THE UNIVERSAL STRIFE 13 



amount of matter in solution, in addition to all the 

 muddy suspended substances that dull the streams, 

 is for ever making a subtle attack on the land. 

 Along the shores the onset is delivered with open 

 violence. Here the forces of gravity and tidal 

 action cause an endless contest, which is increased 

 to frenzy by storms that buffet the water and 

 shriek on the rocky shores. The agitation of the 

 great surface of the deep is then awfully apparent. 

 There is a tossing of waves like shackled arms that 

 can threaten but not strike ; while the wind flings 

 them this way and that, raises them and hurls 

 them down, wanton child that she is, seeming to 

 rejoice in destruction. From the land it seems 

 that the sea is then trying to escape from her 

 prison. She seems to be rising from her eternal 

 bed, when she thunders against the rocky shore. 

 But the rigid walls repel the attempt. Yet she 

 returns to them again and again, grovelling below 

 them, with moaning lamentation. They are 

 drenched with the silvery tears. It is the 

 shattered hands of water that beat against them. 

 But all in vain. Then the water is also springing 

 far up the pebbly beach ; but the battered frag- 



