WHEN THE NIGHT FALLS. 



channels ran all through it. It was not the least 

 use as punting water, but yet excellent water for 

 fowl. 



I am not likely to forget that sight : more than 

 once I had seen it partly covered, great splashes 

 showing in all directions as the rise or fall in the 

 surface came. Now it was a vast lake of salt water, 

 half a mile wide, and a mile and a half in length ; 

 and when the moon was clear it showed like a plain 

 of silver, bounded on one side by the sea-wall, on 

 the other by the higher grounds. One or two 

 scattered hamlets close to the edge of the flat 

 rose just out of highest tide-mark, such as this 

 was. As I looked at the lights from their windows, 

 which were reflected in the water, they appeared to 

 rise directly from it. 



So great was the force of water at the mouth of 

 this flat inlet that you could see it all alive with 

 waves in the centre : even at the edge, if you placed 

 your hand in it, you could feel the throb of the 

 water. Dark masses showed in the centre when 

 the moon rays fell direct : they rose up and down, 

 showing plainly as dark objects, and then were lost 

 again. These were bunches of fowl, quite out of 



