144 FLORIDA DAYS.

the flowing stream until their length is twice
its depth; they encroach continually in one di-
rection or another, so that the outline of the
low shore changes and blurs almost from day to
day. Wide fields of grasses ripple beneath the
ripples of the stream, until, here and there, the
river's vast expanse looks like a flooded meadow.
The cows stand breast-deep in the yellow water,
eating this sweet river grass; they seem to be-
long to the haze of sunshine and the drowsy air,
they are so still, and stare into vacancy with
such gentle, sleepy eyes.
 Following in, and in, one of the curves carved
 by the gentle persistence of the river and
 crowded with lily-leaves, one finds suddenly
 that the river itself is very far away. There is
Only a line of yellow to be seen against a pale i
sky, for the inlet has narrowed into a twisting
creek. It, too, is crowded with lilies, broad,
rustling leaves, green and shiny, and supported
 by long, strong stalks which spring from the
 mud below. They are so instinct with life,
 these lotus-like, almost transparent stalks, so
 virile, so bold and glad, that the hand which