252 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



from them by a high stone wall. It was in October 

 and the trees were laden with tempting ripe apples. 

 Getting over the wall he began hastily plucking the 

 fruit and stowing them in his smock-frock after 

 fastening it round his waist with his belt. When he 

 had got as many apples as he could carry and began 

 to reflect that with such a burden it would be difficult 

 to climb the wall, a sudden rushing sound of wind 

 rose in the wood outside the orchard and appeared 

 to be coming swiftly towards him and the house. 

 He knew from all he had heard from others that it 

 was the ghost-wind. In a moment it rose to the sound 

 of a furious tempest though not a leaf trembled, and 

 in terror he fled before it and in spite of the huge 

 burden was on the top of the wall in a moment. A 

 cat, he said, couldn't have got up quicker and he 

 wondered how he had done it ! But on the top of the 

 wall he slipped and came down on the other side; 

 his belt parted at the same time and the apples were 

 sent rolling all over the smooth lawn. He didn't 

 stay to pick them up; he made a dash for the gate 

 and cleared it with a flying leap which landed him 

 in the road, and never stayed till he was back in his 

 cottage. These and other tales of the past were good 

 to hear, but I was more interested to know the story 

 of the last ravens of Avington, and the old clerk 

 was better able to tell it than any other person in 

 the village. 



The raven, whether we love it or no, is the most 

 fascinating of feathered beings. Its powerful char- 

 acter impresses the imagination. Certainly it has an 



