AMONG THE HILLS. 47 



his laugh does not do him good, for it sometimes 

 costs him his life. He is a splendid fellow if he 

 is not stuffed. 



Clearing the woods, a strip of moorland has to 

 be crossed ; and about the edge of the belt of wood- 

 land, woodcocks sometimes nest. Well do I re- 

 member one nest where Mrs Woodcock hatched 

 out all right ; and she used to lead her little chicks 

 from the wood on to the moor to feed. I told a 

 person once that a woodcock and her young had 

 been running about close to me. He smiled, a wise 

 benevolent smile, and said nothing. It was quite 

 enough, I dislike benevolent smiles much. To 

 settle his unbelief, I could have placed the mother 

 and family in his hands if I had thought fit, but not 

 for twenty pounds would I have done it. 



The moor dips down from here to the main road 

 the road, in fact, cuts it in two parts and then 

 the woods begin again. There are hills, valleys, 

 moors, and scrub growth. The hills are full of 

 water, and the moors act like a sponge to run it 

 off. Some of the moorland has been cleared from 

 heather, and turned into rough field land, bearing 

 a crop of coarse grass and rushes. In one of these 



