WILDWOOD WAYS 



covered them under and they were unable 

 to break through it. Here, however, was 

 evidence to the contrary. Surely they 

 had breakfasted, and no doubt well. 

 They had marched all up and down the 

 low banks, and where a snowy island lay 

 in midstream they had promenaded it 

 from one end to the other. Here and 

 there I could see where they had stepped 

 into shallow water and waded. The 

 marks of muddy claws in the white snow 

 were much in evidence where they had 

 jumped out again. Just as summer 

 bathers " tread for quahaugs " in the sum- 

 mer shallows south of the cape, I could 

 fancy them feeling with their toes for 

 shell-fish and prodding for them with long 

 bill when found. But they had had a 

 salad, too, with breakfast. I could see 

 where they had pulled out the watercress 

 all along and cropped it down to the 



