662 



'nil". wi'.sTF.ux SAxni 



'ER. 



caUM' they keep u]) a ilainlv chaltcriut;. like a fairy raltle-l)i ix, i ine caiiiKit de- 

 cide wlmse \iiu-e iii ilie lial)el has aulhi;irit\'. l'|iiin aht^hting. ihev first pause 

 ill alisohUe silence, absurd lillle Platcis, dune in piaster anil snwii broadcast 

 ii\er tlie sand-scape. This, that they ina\' iinle uhetlier their cnminL; iiia\' liave 

 pi"ov(_)ked hostile notice. ]\eassiired u])"n this ])iiiiit, they become animated, 

 and begin to patter and pick ami probe and pee]>. as tho there were nothing else 

 in life. There is something so detached about iheir happy chatter, that the 

 bird-man feels like an uniinited cow whose bulking presence the l)an(pieting 



Tdkcn in Cliilhim Coiinlv. 



Phnio bv the Author. 



WESTERX S.\NDPIPERS. 



fairies are politeh- minded td ignore. The tlock moves slowh' forward and 

 siiccessi\'c i^latodus rising from the de\astated rear pass ru'er their fellows to 

 take turns at the front. .\ 11 is as merr\- as wed<ling bells, and the bird -man u ilh 

 his camera is trembling with excitement. Rut suddenlv one of the little 

 .soldiers is smitten with a fear-thought. Like an electric llash it is communicated 

 to all his comrades. Instantly, in the dreadful hush which follows, the flock 

 takes wing as one bird, and tlie\- pass out id' hearing arguing excitedly. Ten 

 ti") one, after tlie\' li;i\e swept the horizon two (jr three limes, the panicky mem- 



