Only to the east, where the sun looked over a shoulder of a higher hill, it flamed up into a blinding diamond iridescence.

The surrounding land lay between sky and water, hushed to a Sunday stillness.

Far off across the lake by Richardson's they heard a dog bark, and the sound came fine and small and delicate.
At long intervals the boat stirred with a gentle clap-clapping of the water along its sides.

From the nearby shore in the growth of manzanita bushes quail called and clucked comfortably to each other; a bewildered yellow butterfly danced by over their heads, and slim blue dragon-flies came and poised on their lines and fishing-rods, bowing their backs.
From his seat in the bow, Condy cast a glance at Blix.

She was holding her rod in both hands, absorbed, watchful, very intent.