102 THE CLERK OF THE WOODS 



of the islet, however, as I find when I shift 

 my own position by a rod or two. He seems 

 to be dazed, and for a wonder he holds his 

 tongue. 



Titlarks are about me in crowds. One is 

 actually wading along the shore, with the 

 water up to his belly. Yes, he is doing it 

 again. I look twice to be sure of him. A 

 flock of dusky ducks fly just above my head, 

 showing me the lining of their wings. Truly 

 this is a birdy spot ; and luckily, though 

 there are two or three " blinds " near, and 

 guns are firing every few minutes up and 

 down the marshes, there is no one here to 

 disturb me and my friends. I could stay 

 with them till night ; but what is that ? A 

 buggy is coming down the road out of the 

 hills with only one passenger. This is my 

 opportunity. I pack up my glass, betake 

 myself to the roadside, and when the man 

 responds to my question politely, I take a seat 

 beside him. As he gets out to unlatch the 

 gate, a minute afterward, a light-colored 

 dry-sand-colored bird flies up and perches 

 on a low fence-rail. This is no wader, but 

 is none the less welcome. It is an Ipswich 



