BEYOND THE REALM OF WEATHER 203 



a sense of responsibility to Jonathan. But my 

 vision was caught in the grayness as in a web. 

 The sound grew clearer, then fainter, then it 

 passed away. The twilight gathered, and the 

 fog partly dissolved. A fine rain began to fall, 

 and in the intense silence I could hear the faint 

 pricking of the drops on the stiff marsh stub 

 ble. I had thought the patter of rain on a roof 

 was the stillest sound I knew, but this was 

 stiller. Again came the winnowing of wings 

 again and again; and sometimes I was able to 

 see the dark shapes passing overhead and 

 vanishing almost before they appeared. Now 

 and then I heard the muffled, flat sound of 

 Jonathan s gun he was evidently living up 

 to his opportunities better than I was. Oc 

 casionally, in a spasm of activity, I shot 

 too. 



Until night closed in about us that sound of 

 wings filled the air, and I knelt, listening and 

 watching. It is strange how one can be phys 

 ically alert while yet one s soul is withdrawn, 

 quiet and receptive. Out of this state, as out 

 of a trance, I was roused by the sense of Jona 

 than s dim bulk, seeming &quot;larger than mor 

 tal, &quot; as he emerged from the night. 



