All　summer；　in　this　world　of　water…lilies；　the　coot　and　moorhen　lived　a　bewildered　life。　There　was　no　place　where　they　could　swim；　and　all　day　they　could　be　seen　walking　daintily；　heads　slightly　aside　and　slightly　down；　cross　the　lily…hidden　water；　as　bemused　by　the　world　of　leaves　as　they　had　been　in　winter　by　the　world　of　ice。　In　unbroken　expect　for　two　small　islands。　This　birds；　as　the　fit　takes　them；　dash　madly　up　and　down　it；　taking　off　and　touching　down　like　small　fussy　black　sea…planes。　Beside　them　the　arrival　of　the　wild　duck；　at　much　higher　speed；　is　almost　majestic。　They　plane　down；　the　necks　of　the　drakes　shining　like　royal　green　satin；　with　the　air　of　squadrons　ing　in　after　long　flights　from　home。

It　was　not　until　late　summer　fishing　was　possible。　The　water　was　so　low　and　clear　after　drought　that　the　fish　could　be　seen　in　great　dark　shoals；　sunning　themselves；　shy；　impossible　to　catch。　Only　in　the　evenings；　as　the　air　cooled　and　the　water　darkened；　and　the　surface　was　broken　with　the　silver　dances　of　the　rising　shoals；　would　you　perhaps　get　a　bite　or　two；　a　baby　perch　sucking　at　the　worm；　a　roach　no　bigger　than　a　sardine。　All　the　time；　on　bright　hot　mornings　especially；　great　pike　would　lie　out　in　the　middle　of　the　lake　in　shoals　of　ten　or　even　twenty；　like　black　torpedoes；　transfixed；　never　moving　except　in　sudden　immense　rises　that　rocked　the　water…surface　with　rings。

It　is　curious；　but　all　the　life　on　and　about　water　seems　to　belong　to　water。　Ex