AUTUMN LIGHTS AND SHADES. 197 



That field-glass in his eyes is far more dangerous 

 than his own double -barrel. "Any tool as will 

 bring hares, rabbits, an' birds, a long spell off, 

 right under yer nose, waun't made fur nothin', 

 you may 'pend on't." 



Leaving these woods and the chalk hills behind 

 us, we cross a trout-stream after a time, and find 

 ourselves in the fir and heather district a distinctly 

 different country to all appearance, yet only divided 

 from the former by a road and a stream. In front 

 of us the firs stretch away mile after mile. Heather, 

 broom, wortle - shrubs, and bracken cling, climb, 

 and hold on to any surface which their roots can 

 penetrate. 



Sandstone crops up out of the light soil in all 

 directions. The banks and roads consist of a 

 light sandy loam; the whole face of the hill on 

 this side of the moor is composed of stone of the 

 toughest and most durable description. A walk 

 of three miles brings us to the highest ridge of 

 these hills, and down the further side of it we 

 look into the field lands, the hedge -sides being 

 lined for some distance with fine oak-trees. In 

 these the rooks are busy enough, cackling and 



