122 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



In the meantime his two ponies were in the stables with nothing 

 to do. Here was a good opportunity for a long drive. Frank 

 at once suggested that they should drive to Scoulton and see 

 the breeding-place of the black-headed gulls. This was agreed 

 to without hesitation. Then Frank said that as he had a pair 

 of horses they might as well drive tandem, and he undertook to 

 drive. Mason, the groom, objected to this, because he was afraid 

 that Master Frank could not drive well enough ; but Frank 

 was positive that he could, although he had never driven tandem 

 before. He said he knew the theory, and he was certain the 

 practice was easy. At last it was agreed that the horses should 

 be harnessed tandem, and that if Frank could not manage them 

 he was to give the reins up to Mason. 



" Why do the black-headed gulls breed at Hingham, which is 

 an inland place ? I always thought they bred by the sea," said 

 Dick. 



" The black-headed gulls don't Every year as the breeding 

 season approaches, they leave the sea and go to certain lakes or 

 rivers, where from 'time immemorial' they have bred. Scoul- 

 ton Mere near Hingham is one of these places, and they breed 

 there in countless numbers, going there in March and leaving 

 in July or August. It is a sight worth seeing, I can assure you. 

 There are not many places in England now where they breed 

 in such numbers as they do at Scoulton, " answered Frank. 



" What a curious instinct it is which leads them there. And 

 how funny that for half a year they should live on salt food by 

 the sea, and then for the other half on fresh-water food," said 

 Dick. 



Frank and Jimmy were standing in the archway of the Royal 

 Hotel the next morning wondering where Dick was. It was 

 raining heavily, and they had had to put off starting to Hingham. 

 Presently Dick was seen running up the Walk with his coat 

 collar turned up, evidently pretty well drenched. Under his 

 arm however he had a very nice-looking umbrella. 



" Oh, Dick, " said Frank as he joined them, " whatever have 

 you been buying an umbrella for, and why, having bought one, 

 do you not put it up when it rains?" 



" I believe every person I passed all the way from the top 

 of St. Giles's Street would have liked to ask me that question. 

 They plainly thought that I was a fool." Dick answered rather 

 crossly. 



