NIGHTJAR 241 



Southend ; continuing on the road until I crossed some 

 fields on the left hand, I arrived at a beautiful meadow, 

 bounded on two sides by thick, tangled wood, in a rather 

 wild part of the country, between Bromley and Chisle- 

 hurst, Kent. The grass had been cut, and the hay made 

 into large heaps or cocks, ready for carrying. By the 

 time I had reached this place the sun had gone down 

 in all its glorious splendour. Not caring about returning 

 to town the same night, and there being no place nearer 

 than Bromley where I could lodge, and besides, being 

 unwilling to enter a public-house, I determined to pass 

 the night in the field where I was. Night came on 

 apace, and I had seen no human face since I entered 

 the meadow ; so I set to work and made two of the 

 hay-cocks into one large heap, at a short distance from 

 the wood-side : and then, mole-like, burrowed into the 

 middle of the hay, just leaving my head outside for a 

 little fresh air, and free for any observations I might 

 have occasion to make, as well as to watch the course 

 of the moon, which had risen in unclouded beauty. Here, 

 then, was a soft, warm, and deliciously sweet-scented bed, 

 made in quick time ; and I had not rested long before 

 I found it necessary to throw off a layer or two of my 

 fragrant covering, for I began to get too hot. At length 

 sleep overcame me, but how long I had remained in that 

 state, when I awoke, I cannot say ; I had a confused idea 

 of elves, spirits, fairies, and such-like imaginary beings 

 haunting me in my sleep. 



" I had not long been again settled on my grassy couch, 

 reflecting upon my wild fantastic dream, with all its 

 attendant revelry, when my attention was drawn to the 

 singular, wild, ringing strain of the Fern-Owl; it resem- 

 bled at times the whirring, rapid rotation of a wheel, now 

 16 



