146 WILD LIFE ON A NORFOLK ESTUARY 



at present on its nest ; her companion, with others off duty in 

 the locality, are worming in a likely corner of the marsh 

 adjoining. Master Hornpie knows well that the worms like 

 the cool evening, and worms are his favourite dainties. He 

 knows of their presence by the feel of them, as in his run- 

 nings to and fro their cold bodies touch his sensitive toes. 

 The worm is quick to bolt indoors, but the lapwing is 

 quicker, and seizing it by the head, hangs tightly but 

 tenderly to it, and at length persuades it to come up and be 

 devoured. We are of opinion, too, that those great beady 

 eyes have a barn-owl's fitness for seeing in the dark. But 

 for these occasional sounds of nature the moments flit by in 

 silence. We fain would have them linger, as Wordsworth 

 seemed to desire when writing : 



" Summer ebbs each day that follows 



Is a reflex from on high, 

 Tending to the darksome hollows 

 Where the frosts of winter lie." 



There is no mist on the marshes to-night, or we had turned 

 in earlier. The first hour of a new day finds us still keeping 

 vigil. We have just refreshed our lower nature with steam- 

 ing coffee, and ransacked our locker for a dainty hidden 

 there. The changes which usher in the daylight are worth 

 the watching. The gradual lightening of the eastern sky 

 from deepest blue to palest green, the dimming of the stars, 

 the streaks of gold and rosy tints lighting up the horizon, 

 the dots of purple, and the answering tints abovehead, and 

 now to the westward, change, and pale, and brighten, giving 

 place to other tints and colours in panoramic succession. 

 The sun is throwing up bright, sharp rays to herald his 

 coming before we have rolled ourselves up in our blankets 

 and thrown ourselves upon the settles to snatch a brief 

 period of repose. 



All is a blank until we hear the sharp rattle of the marsh- 

 man's stick upon the side of our cabin. He has crossed the 

 river in order to complete his rounds. Morning and night 

 he patrols his widespread domains to see if the cattle and 

 horses are safe and sound. Now and again he finds one 

 flank-deep in a " deek," and on several occasions we have 

 helped him, with tackle and block, to pull out some half- 



