: 54 
Wila Life in Southern Seas. 
Then back again, up and down over the 
seas, diving beneath any that are too high and 
swift to withstand, till you reach the ledge of 
the reef again and wait another chance. Not 
all together do we go this time, for now the 
swimmers are widely separated, and as we swim 
out we meet others coming back, flying before 
the rollers under which we have to dive. Here 
and there are those who from long practice 
and skill disdain to use a board ; for springing 
in front of a curling sea, by a curious trick 
of hollowing in the back and depressing the 
head and neck, they fly in before the rolling 
surge at an amazing speed, beating the water 
with one hand as they go, and uttering wild 
cries of triumph as they pass us, struggling 
seaward. Others there are who with both 
hands held together before them, keep them¬ 
selves well in position amid the boiling rush of 
waters by a movement of the legs and feet alone. 
But, that day, to my mind the girls looked 
prettiest of all when, instead of lying prone, 
they sat upon their boards, and held them¬ 
selves in position by grasping the sides. Twice, 
as we swam out, did we see some twenty or 
thirty of them mounted slopingly on the face 
