SUMMER HOURS ON BREYDON 127 



vivid red and gold, while the radiant sky is reflected by the 

 moist flats. The ripple, Burgh-wards, is afire with the sun ; 

 the blaze dazzles the eye. No sunsets can equal those of 

 Breydon. Little by little the fire dies out, and now from 

 burning embers the clouds turn greyer, and yet greyer, until 

 at length only the upper edge of that purple curtain hung 

 in the west is touched with glowing brass, and then purpling, 

 too, all die away to vapoury-looking masses. We find our- 

 selves fast aground ; but who remembers the greasy, muddy 

 flats when peering into heaven ? 



The gulls got up just now and went silently in a big 

 wedge-shaped flock to roost upon the sea-waves. Harsh 

 croak of heron and mellow piping of plover break the quiet 

 of eventide. 



8.30. We gather our harvest of the estuary into a hamper, 

 mop down decks and bottom-boards, and row for home. 



One fine summer night Blind Ben and I had been doing 

 good business among the creeks, and had filled our basket. 

 It was past the hour of midnight when, having left the punt 

 beside the Moorhen and walked home by the marshes, we 

 reached the North Quay. The policeman on duty that night 

 must have been sleeping in some quiet corner. Coming to 

 a lamp, we stayed to divide our plunder, which we shot out 

 on the pavement, and sat down to count it between us. 

 The aroma of our catch spread far and wide, and we had not 

 gone many yards before one night-prowling tabby, and then 

 another of different hue, came to share the smell! It was 

 an exceedingly funny thing to see the cats concentrating 

 their forces, coming to the wet spot on the pavement as 

 wheel-spokes to a common hub ! And there we left them 

 to their own devices ! 



BREYDON TERNS AT HOME 



For many years the comings and goings of those delight- 

 ful and dainty seabirds have interested me ; and having 

 heard such glowing accounts of their nesting habits on the 

 North Norfolk foreshore, I availed myself of the first oppor- 

 tunity of taking a trip to their native haunts. 



On Whit-Monday, June I2th, 1905, I paid a flying visit to 



