312 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 farmlands 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 ex- 

 ploration 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 and 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 journeying inland 

 in their slow-flapping laborious manner, than other 

 crows and yet more crows succeeded, in twos and 



