14 AT A HERONRY NEAR LONDON 
faggots that attract the eye a few steps from 
the keeper’s door (see a/so Part II, p. 155). 
The keeper is fond of birds, and has some 
poultry and dogs too. An old Muscovy duck 
which had evidently had a recent good meal, 
sat quietly in the porch of the cottage, taking 
stock of us and our doings as we put the 
camera parts together. Behind it a fine 
brown retriever lay in his kennel with his 
head out, wistfully looking on and whining 
every now and then, implying his wish to go 
with us. But a chain kept him back. 
Our path lies through straggling trees and 
bushes which skirt the water’s edge, and we 
are careful not to tread on the many bluebells 
(as yet in leaf only) that carpet the sod. It 
is a short cut to where the punt and boat are 
kept. The keeper has a careful eye to the 
oars, which he puts away under lock and key 
in what was once a grotto built by the water 
side. It is a quaint old place closed by an 
ancient rusted wrought-iron gate. The floor 
of the porch on which we stand before enter- 
ing is made up of a curious design in round 
