AN ARTFUL LITTLE DIVER 255 
going on to turn an old-time phrase to suit his 
needs. “ Once a spider, always a spider, whether 
on sea or land. In winter the Argyroneta builds 
a snug warm nest in deep water where it hiber¬ 
nates until the season comes round for the pursuit 
of its legitimate business. Never was there a 
professional diver more devoted to his craft than 
is this creature, which wants air to breathe like all 
its kin on land, and yet chooses to build its home 
at the bottom of a pond or stream and even on the 
sea floor. It is a striking example of the adapta¬ 
bility existing in Nature everywhere. Having an 
appetite for water fare, this little animal, with so 
many land-like traits, proceeds to show that we 
are creatures of our environment only so long as 
we choose to remain such. Our destiny lies in 
our own hands; we can become whatever we most 
desire to be.” 
“ That being true,” averred Tommy stoutly, as 
one and all turned to their own pursuits, “ just 
watch me become Mr. Thomas Lane Dayton, the 
eminent authority on all sorts of nature lore! ” 
