3 o6 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



There were no gunners out on the shore at this 

 point just then and he would be able to reach the 

 flock in a little while, although he would not perhaps 

 be able to follow them to the farm-lands on the 

 morrow or ever again. 



Rough and rainy days succeeded that rare evening 

 of a wild-wing display on a magnificent scale; then 

 followed yet another perfect November morning like 

 that on which the martins had abandoned their 

 stricken nest. A clear sky, a light that glorified that 

 brown marshy world, and a clear sharp air which 

 almost made one think that "miracles are not 

 ceased," since in breathing it in the shackles that 

 hold and weigh us down appear to drop off. On such 

 a morning it is only necessary for a man to mimic the 

 actions of a crane or stork by lifting his arms and 

 taking a couple of strides and a hop forward, to find 

 himself launched in space, rising to a vast height, on 

 a voyage of exploration to "heavens not his own and 

 worlds unknown before." It is the nearest we can 

 get to the state of being a bird. 



On that side where the large sun was coming up 

 the sky was all a pale amber-coloured flame, and on 

 it, seemingly at a great distance, appeared minute 

 black floating spots, which rapidly increased in size 

 and presently resolved themselves into a company of 

 hooded crows just arrived from their journey over 

 the North Sea. And no sooner were they gone journey- 

 ing inland in their slow-flapping laborious manner, 

 than other crows and yet more crows succeeded, in 

 twos and threes and half-dozens, and in scores and 



