WE WALK ACROSS 91 



elusion that a pair of heavy shooting-boots hanging 

 round the neck was one of the worst devices. So we 

 hid them. We laid them up by the grey goose's nest 

 just above the ford. 



The male peregrine was still hanging about the neigh- 

 bourhood of the eyrie. Rising at our approach he 

 mounted high into the air and flew round and round 

 watching all our movements, and screaming wildly from 

 time to time. 



We were not to cross the river so easily this time. 

 The water had risen. 



Thinking it might be just a spate from the day's snow- 

 melting, it seemed best to curl up for a sleep and wait 

 for a fall in the flood. 



It was not easy to find a suitable corner. The bank 

 at this point dropped very suddenly to the water's edge 

 where it was not wholly covered with snow, it was almost 

 worse ; mud in a semi-liquid state, slipping down in great 

 treacle-like masses. 



At last we found two places about forty yards apart, 

 either of them capable of holding one man if he curled 

 up close. The bank had become undermined and there 

 had followed a land-slip, leaving a hollow ledge above. 

 Hyland took one, I the other. 



As I lay down there was a flutter under my head, and 

 out of a hole slipped a little snow-bunting. So I turned 

 my head and looked down, and there was her nest with 

 six lovely little eggs. After that I just changed my 



