i8o CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



between heaven and the cool coral groves, and compare 

 enforced inactivity with the blithesome freedom of the 

 weakest butterfly. 



Occasionally a turtle would bob up from its pastures 

 below, and catching sight of the sail, with a bubbling gulp, 

 disappear, the white splash creating concentric rings of 

 ripples. But the breeze came not, and the disorderly 

 procession of butterflies, miles broad, passed on. 



"Some flew light as a laugh of glee ; 

 Some flew soft as a low, long sigh, 

 All to the haven where each would be." 



I listened to the wooings of the black boys to the 

 breeze. They liked not the prospect of sweeping the boat 

 home. They implored for wind with cooings, with petulant 

 whistlings, and with gentle but novel objurgations. But 

 it came not, and so the afternoon passed and evening fell, 

 and the butterflies, a faint, thin stratum, drifted on. 



Then as a final challenge to the breeze that we longed 

 for, and which had resisted all appeals, " Come on big wind 

 and kill little boat ! " exclaimed an irresponsible boy, whose 

 ears had long ached with the day's dull silence, and who 

 saw no prospect of hot turtle steak for supper. 



As if to take up the gauntlet, a faint zephyr flicked the 

 listless cheek of the ocean, and slapped the sails. The 

 boom swayed and swung over, the boat, without guidance, 

 idly headed off, and we flopped home to the placid bay 

 before the unenergetic breeze, which was all that Nature in 

 her idle hour could spare. 



The Serpent Beguiled 



Eve Avenged 



" You do yet taste 

 Some subtleties o' the isle that will let not you 

 Believe things certain." 



Once upon a time — not so very long ago either — an 

 unpretentious poultry farm was started. The idea of 



