136 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



ledges has no equal for graceful move- a third, and then there will be a long 



ment. The elfish creatures seem to be interval before the remaining frequenter 



as intelligent as they are lithe and of the sett, who is given to sleeping 



active. Conscious of their inability to out at times, puts in an appearance, 



pull down a hare singly, they will band It is grey dawn by this and objects 



and hunt in a pack, and the silence of that have been distinguishable only 



the lonely uplands must often be by differences of shade are beginning 



broken by their shrill yelpings as they to assume their familiar hues. And 



follow with an accuracy no hounds can now the sea-birds on the islands below 



rival the line of their terror-stricken add their clamour to the ceaseless 



quarry. Their night's work over, they roar of the sea. It is during a lull of 



will, like brigands after a " blood " their greeting to the day that the 



raid, steal back to their fastness in the laggard of the cliff folk comes over the 



cliffs, where whilst man is abroad brow and checks his steps by the old 



they sleep off the weariness of long cromlech to reconnoitre. His long 



pursuit and plan another expedition, pointed muzzle and pricked ears show 



Whether the stoat returns home between the lichened pillar and the 



before or after the polecat it is im- blossoming furze ; his yellow eyes gleam 



possible to say, but it may with like the dewdrops jewelling the bents, 



confidence be asserted that the badger His senses tell him that all is well, and 



will be ensconced for the day before leaving his shelter he descends towards 



either of them. So fearful of being the sett. What a beauty he looks as 



seen and taken is this slow-footed crea- he trots down the slope ! Attracted 



ture, that before the stars have quite by the croaking of a raven he advances 



faded he will give up foraging and make to the verge of the cliff, shifting how- 



off over the grass lands at his best ever at once his gaze from the noisy 



pace. On reaching the cliffs he threads bird to a seal amidst the foam that 



the paths between the bushes dotting wreaths the purple-shadowed waters, 



the crest, shuffles down the zigzag Then he whips round, whisks his brush, 



track worn by his own pads to the and with characteristic impudence goes 



" earth," and disappears from view, to ground in the mansion that others 



Another badger may follow, and perhaps have excavated. 



