200 WINTER'S EVE 



a faint feeling of fear, the nerves strung 

 up, caused perhaps by slumbering instinct. 

 Thousands of years ago a figure coming 

 stealthily nearer in the darkness might mean 

 an enemy. I glance over my shoulder; 

 there is a feeling that some one might leap 

 on to my back. But as he draws nearer 

 I can hear his footfalls in the frosty grass 

 and his laboured breath it is one of the 

 farm hands going home from the inn. He 

 climbs over the gate, starts violently as he 

 sees me standing here, and bids me good- 

 night. I answer, adding that I have 

 been listening to the owls. He politely 

 tells me that there are a " good few on 'em 

 about," but to himself says that I am mazed. 

 Then he passes on, his steps get fainter 

 and fainter, and I am alone. 



Tak wrtk ! Yak-yak-wrik I low over my 

 head. A blood-curdling noise if ever there 

 was one. The latter part of the screech, 

 the ivrzk, is considerably higher in tone 

 than the former part. The barn owl passed 



