CHAPTER VII 



THE WAVE'S TOOTH 



The cliff 

 wall. 



Cliffs of granite that stretch up and down 

 the coast, capes of rock that here and there 

 push their prows out into the ocean, shores of 

 shingle and sandstone that forever shoulder the 

 broken wave away — what a barrier they form 

 against the sea ! The mighty wall, with a 

 foundation far beneath the tide and an eleva- 

 tion far above it, how impossible of conquest 

 it seems ! Serene it stands with perpendicular 

 face turned seaward as though defiant of the 

 elements. The pines and birches grow on its 

 top ; below the verge in the crannies of the rock 

 cling sumach and alder, interspersed with sam- 

 phire, sea pinks, field daisies, goldenrod, or 

 perhaps only moss with green and yellow li- 

 chens ; from its pinnacles the osprey watches the 

 outstretched waters; and along the narrow 

 ledges the clamoring sea birds build their 

 nests. The sense of security and permanence 

 is omnipresent. We are prone to think that 

 no wave could ever prevail against that tower- 



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