The Lair of Something Striped. 73 



runs smoothly over it. Caught in an eddy 

 a red seaweed whirls and spreads its shoots, 

 and a sertularia colony swinging near has 

 descended to mimicry of botany without 

 putting on any air of condescension. The 

 tremulous algse waving from cliff to boulder 

 and from boulder to cliff, make in the water 

 a clear arcade, a runway. Out from a 

 crevice glides a cautious chogset into the 

 runway, now poising by a crimson sponge, 

 then backing slowly underneath a trans- 

 lucent green sheet of sea kale. A crab 

 makes haste to cross the round yellow 

 bottom pebbles, carrying a burden that 

 he fain would hide, for this is a lair, and 

 he knows it. What is his burden, though ? 

 Oh, look, you unbelievers in disinterested 

 friendship. 'T is a stranger crab that had 

 to shed its armor, and unprotected needs 

 the guarding of a friend for two whole 

 days or more. There 's nothing " in it," 

 as the politicians say, for the faithful pro- 

 tector, and yet he will not weary, but fight 

 valiantly if necessary, and lose his very 

 life, and for that there is no reward nor 

 other life. 



