RUNNING WATERS 



165 



book makers, but I never saw either of them 

 that hue. They are usually a drab color, 

 and sometimes after rain, yellowish or brown- 

 ish. In local hue they are not attractive 

 to look upon, but muddy water does not make 

 a bad reflector of the sky. Indeed, the Rhine 

 and the Seine are often beautiful in their re- 

 flections and show us many odd, amalgamated 

 colors. For clouded water will not reflect the 

 same hues as clear water. Even the brown- 

 hned water in the wood-lakes of America will 

 darken the green of the overhanging leaves in 

 reflection, and make the white flower of the 

 dogwood appear of a grayish tone ; and a muddy, 

 yellow-hued river like the Tiber will sometimes 

 cast pinkish reflections and occasionally toss 

 up little crests that appear cream-white. The 

 Thames, too, takes on an infinite variety of col- 

 ors under different lights ; and in cloudy weather 

 the Arno is just as fitful, just as changeable. 



There is a third stage in the river's course 

 remaining to be traced the Mountain Track. 

 It is usually called the first stage, but for the 

 sake of convenience we are following up from 

 the sea and reversing the order. In its Valley 

 and Plain Tracks the river remains a river, 

 but in its mountain course it is usually little 



