The Track Near the Marsh 



S + I SELDOM ALLOWED RAIN AND 



weather to hinder me if conditions in the marsh justified my 

 canoe trips, but after I had paddled through two miles of 

 canals without seeing anything of particular interest I de- 

 cided to stop traveling and spend the rest of the afternoon 

 watching the rule wrens. No wildlife in the cove greeted me— 

 the place was quiet and apparently deserted. I waited ten 

 minutes for a bird to perch on a cattail and begin its song. 

 The only sound came from the striking of the rain drops on 

 the foliage; the only motion was made as the drops stirred 

 the water into rings. Then I thought: if the tule wrens, with 

 all their enthusiasm for the place and all their zealousness in 

 its defense, have temporarily taken to cover there is no 

 reason for my staying any longer. 



I put up the canoe and started for my car, but when I 

 passed the stadium the sight of a few people at the ticket 

 windows reminded me that a track meet was scheduled. I 

 like track meets. Inaction and not weather had made me 

 leave the marsh. There would be plenty of action here. Why 

 not stop for awhile at the meet? I did. 



I found conditions on the field as I had expected: puddles 



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