Evening star., 1913-02-09


@7MT6 of sand to the beach The river flows out
ZS16SA to the sea, first as tiny rvulet then as
G9&t6 rushing stream, in the end as a roaring
SNASS@ flood that sweeps away the wall and tears
gorge that reminds you Ot-wel OF the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado" Delta Looms slender
grav-eyed girl in khaki suit including cap and leggngs
made gesture toward the broad expanse OF water
before them.
aAnd weIl see it? Well see the river go out?' asked
Mary Pike with expectant shake of her beaver hat
1--WE shall Look at the men digging with their SHOW
els In little while-about sundown, l fancy-thc
deluge will come. It's really sight worth while We
mustn't miss it."
They were standing mound of white sand over
looking the swollen mouth of Cypress River, huge Ir
regular plate of Furnished glass in the santng rays of
the January sun At their right the ocean, driving in
between Mission Point and Point Snake, was pounding
thunderousy upon strip of white beach At their lett
a range of hills crouching low, like row OF tgreSses
about to spring, marked the rivers course down the
narrow valley.
There were eight in the party,-two university pro-
fessors Pike and LOOmis each the verge OF retire
ment their wives and daughters, and two young men,
who leaned upon longhandled, trple-barbed spears.
One of these was big blond a smoothfaced Hercules.
The other was rather Slight dark and with cearcut,
mobile face. Each ignoring the others presence
with attempt at unconcern SO pronounced as to
indicate embarrassment.
dts case of Now you it and now you don't
it," went Delta Loomis, glancng swiftly at the
spearmen and then continuing with vivacity that
little forced. "YOu see river; and quite re-
spectacle too you think with its mouth
shut tight. Then the mouth begins to open There
rush and roar, and there is nothing LETT only
a ravine coated with thin, black mud, few pools
crowded with frightened trout and an innocent little
brook ambling along at the bottom"
"Your river vanishes" remarked Delta's mother.
@vanishes like ghost fleeing before the dawn"
"But where do the salmon come n?" asked Mary
Pike. "How we going to catch the salmon"
"The salmon supposed to be out in the bay waiting
for opportunity to get up the river Delta replied
"They go up to spawn, you know explained Pro-
fessOr LOOmiS.
"When the river goes out, Delta continued brushing
truant strand of pale gold hair under her cap, the
waiting salmon taste the fresh water and make dash
for The flood passes, and still the fish keep com
ing of the surf and into the river After dark we'll
hear them splash splash they leap along through the
their spears.
She sunny, appealing glance at the two spear
men, if to say, "Now do be good and plant those
cruel barbs in the fish, instead of in each otherV
"You say the salmon supposed to be out there in
the bay remarked Mrs. Pike "Humph
"Look!" cried Delta, pointing abruptly toward the
outer edge of the breakers
A HUGE swell, driving in from the open sea, had
\ lowered higher and higher, and now was on the
point of overtopping itself As it hung tottering wall
of brilliant green, vivdly in its depths black
object upright, like the body of man, and five six
feet long The fell forward and in the weter of
foam bobbed a round, black head.
Its mani gasped Mary Pike.
"A mani" shuddered Mrs Pike
ooh" groaned Mrs Looms, fumbling for her hand
kerChicf.