54 UNDER GREEN LEA VES 
Pigeons flew down to drink also, and the black- 
birds, thrushes, and finches bathed there. It was, and 
is, a beautiful bit for the artist. Into the picture to 
which I have alluded a cottage girl was introduced, 
with one of those old-fashioned brown pitchers in her 
hand. She is about to fill it under the spout ; and 
this gives just the human element that was needed. 
The stream runs swiftly and merrily on, forming 
picturesque miniature bays. Here is one where an 
old moorland stump has tried to shoot out again and 
failed. Though tiny shallows, some of the bays are 
six feet in length ; then comes a pool the size of a 
small table top ; after that a run of water two feet 
deep for twenty yards or more, and so on, a complete 
change at every turn ; at the widest part it is not six 
feet in width, even where the cattle come to drink. 
On it goes, making rippling, lapping music, all 
through the moor. Here the titlark, the meadow 
pipit, nests in the tussocks that rise up from the 
spongy parts. The bird sits close; if you are careful 
you can see all you wish without disturbing the inno- 
cent creature that is watching every movement of 
yours with her bright eyes. 
Pewits breed here ; three of them are now, to all 
appearance, unconcernedly feeding quite close to us. 
They are, however, simply watching every step we 
