196 DAYS OUT OF DOORS. 



snow, others that were deep rose-purple, and many with 

 a brilliant crimson eye that glowed like coals of fire. 



I had not been overrash although the outlook was so 

 unpromising at the start ; for here, indeed, was novelty. 

 In past years this water plant was to be met with here 

 but very sparingly, and now there were hundreds in dense 

 clusters. The birds that flew over, the fishes that gazed 

 skyward, and the frogs that skulked among the humbler 

 weeds alone knew of this bright water garden, and well 

 had they kept the secret. I wondered not that they pro- 

 tested so vehemently, when by lucky chance I too dis- 

 covered it. 



Heresy, if you please, but flowers alone can not fill for 

 me a long summer's day. I will not say that in this case 

 I tired of them ; but ere long I was ready for other ob- 

 jects to fill in the wide landscape, and soon they came. 

 A pair of snowy egrets dropped from the fleecy clouds, 

 sinking earthward with as soft a flight as might bits of the 

 clouds themselves. Nearer and nearer they came, until I 

 could see the fluttering down upon their breasts. Then, 

 with closed wings, these beautiful creatures touched the 

 water with their extended feet and stood upon the soft 

 mud, the embodiment of grace. They came to rest rather 

 than to feed, and preening a misplaced plume was the extent 

 of their labors. Nor did they speak. I could not detect 

 the faintest utterance, although so very near them. Over 

 a little space of open water, they occasionally walked to and 

 fro, as if the statuesque attitude they usually assumed be- 

 came at times a little tiresome. Despite their beauty they 

 were stupid, and their listlessness robbed them of all in- 

 terest after a few minutes' gazing at them. I became im- 

 patient at last, and suddenly emerging from my retreat, 

 shouted loudly. With startled cries they instantly took 

 wing and rose to a great height before deciding upon any 

 course. I thought that they might return, but they did 



