30 WESTERN SERIES OF READERS. 



The water then spreads out to the sides, and much 

 of the mud settles on the great flats. 



Then the tide falls, and the water in the center 

 of the bay goes rushing out through the strait into 

 the ocean. All the mud it carries now quickly 

 settles, for mud and salt do not like each other, 

 and besides, the motion of the river is stopped by 

 the ocean, and it must lay down its burden. The 

 mud and sand at this point form a great horse- 

 shoe-shaped bar, making the water shallow, and 

 causing much trouble for ships when the waves 

 are high. 



But at present we are not concerned about the 



bar, nor the 

 rough waves 

 which make 

 passengers so 

 sick when they 

 go over it in 

 Figure 12. the steamer s. 



We are thinking of the great mud-flats which are 

 left bare at low tide. These flats are the home of 

 distinguished visitors from the East, and we will 

 now proceed to make their acquaintance. 



