How a New Water Witch Came to the Marsh 



177 



canal with its crew gaily singing. At the conclusion of the 

 song there was a splash and five empty beer bottles struck 

 the water. Three sank but the gentle breeze began to move 

 the remaining two in my direction while the boat moved on. 

 I could hear the songs until the boat passed under the bridge. 

 Canoes and skiffs carried picnickers through the canal, power 

 and sailboats were filled to the limit, and an excursion 

 steamer passed, its decks crowded with interested tourists. 

 A dog chased a ball thrown by its master on a lawn across 

 the bay. Automobile horns sounded from streets on three 

 sides of the water. 



Little speedboats stirred up surprisingly large waves, 

 which would have wrecked the nest if the intervening lily 

 pads had not absorbed their force and converted them into 

 gentle swells on which the loosely tied and floating structure 

 easily rode. Students from the nearby training field made 



