"_Over there. Over there._"

He started and looked involuntarily toward the phosphorescent line of
breakers. Over there? Once it had meant France. Now it came to him with
a new meaning. Beyond the gleaming waves he fancied he could see the
jagged shore-line of El Diablo.

"And we won't come back,
Till it's over, over there."

Gregory's eyes narrowed. When "it was over, over there," perhaps it
would be over everywhere. Then, and only then, would he reach "the land
of his dreams." He looked guiltily at Dickie Lang and was glad that she
could not read his thoughts concerning the end of the long trail.

"What were you thinking of, just then? I never saw you look like that
before."

It was the eternal feminine speaking.

Gregory shook his head. "I never did look like that before," he said.
"Because I never thought quite that far. Some day perhaps I'll tell you
what I was thinking."

The moon, which had shyly appeared over the low brown hills, grew bolder
and mingled its rays with those of the fire in crowding back the
shadows. Then a shout came from the water.

"Grunion."

The singing ceased abruptly and the service men scrambled to their feet
and raced down the beach.

Dickie made haste to follow.

"Come on," she cried to Gregory. "And I'll show you the sight of your
life."

Following the girl to the wet sands, Gregory was amazed at the
spectacle. The silver waves were alive with glistening fish. Borne high
on the crest of the tumbling breakers, they surged to the beach by
thousands and lay quivering like quick-silver, stranded in the sand by
the back-wash. With a deafening shout men scrambled to the water's edge
and scooped them up in their hands. Dickie rushed to the water and
returned with a small fish, somewhat resembling a sardine.

"Grunion," she announced. "They come up at certain seasons of the year
to spawn. There are only three places on the coast south of the Golden
Gate where they run. For three or four nights now while the tide is high
and the moon full they'll be swept up on this beach and left to lay
their eggs in the wet sand. If you get closer you can see them standing
on their tails. You'll never believe it unless you do see it. You've got
to work fast to get them for they hop along the beach only for a second.
Then the next breaker takes them out."

Handing him one of the little fish, she continued: "Take him up to the
fire and look at him. Against a good light you can see clea