FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



Hearing them say that the big flat must be 

 covered this tide, also that the moon will show 

 out between ten and eleven, we go home for a rest. 

 Several miles of heavy walking over shingle will 

 cause you to think a rest necessary. But I was 

 well repaid for turning out at the time mentioned, 

 when the moon was up, with one of the shore- 

 shooters as a guide. It was not indeed safe when 

 the large flat was under water to go alone, even 

 if you knew the locality fairly well. 



It was not a bright moonlight night, for huge 

 clouds passed swiftly over the moon, leaving a bright 

 light for a time, to be obscured again by the clouds 

 that followed on. 



Hundreds of places can be found now where, 

 from some very natural causes, the tide works in its 

 own fashion. Salt-water safety-valves these are 

 when the sea is in a state of high pressure. 



My companion told me that the tide only forced 

 its way up and over these bitter slimy saltings, for it 

 was not used even for grazing purposes very often. 

 Fowl could be found there in the season ; but even 

 in the best of times it was dangerous to go in 

 pursuit of them, for cuts, drains, dykes, and main 



