246 Union Bay 



sleep. They stood close to shore, the water just touching their 

 feet; they placed their long bills under their wings, raised 

 one leg, and stood with eyes nearly closed. The terrific roar 

 which accompanied the second-half kickoff did not open a 

 single eye. 



Two of the planes had left the area so that I could now 

 hear the announcer almost continually. The home team 

 began to do better: the chant of the rooters changed from 

 "hold 'em" to "touchdown" and before much time had 

 elapsed a touchdown had been made and the extra point 

 kicked with a resultant 7-7 score. 



There was no sportsmanship in the dowitchers. They ig- 

 nored the game and continued their nap, the light wind stir- 

 ring their feathers, and their bodies swaying easily on one 

 leg. Had they been standing on both they would have been 

 subjected to constant strain. Now and then their nearly 

 closed eyes opened wide, then were almost immediately shut 

 again. I struck the canoe sides with my open hands to note 

 their reactions— they awoke with a little jump that moved 

 them a few inches, glanced about, closed their eyes, and re- 

 sumed their sleeping. I next struck the side sharply with the 

 end of the paddle— they shivered violently but did not move. 

 Quite evidently they had no fear of me. Such trustfulness 

 would make them easy prey for a mink or fox. Possibly they 

 had come a long distance and needed sleep badly. 



I must confess that a nap seemed like a good idea. I closed 

 my eyes and stretched out on the pillows. But I could not let 

 myself go. I wanted to watch the guests and hear the prog- 

 ress of the game. I sat up and went back to my business. The 

 birds still slept, the game dragged, the desire for a nap re- 

 turned, but only for a moment. Then I glanced to the south 

 and saw a number of tiny white triangles floating on the 

 water and bearing down on me. I wished that some of the 

 fairy-loving children of my friends might have been here, 

 for it was a fleet of feather galleons from the moult of some 



