THE CLERK AND THE LAST RAVENS 255 



large apple orchard between the woods and the gardens 

 and lawns surrounding the house and divided 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 smockfrock 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 out- 

 side 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 



