A SPRING DAY WITH ' BOB ' 59 



We were both nature lovers, and the joy of the 

 river itself was but a practical part of our pleasure 

 even as the chasing on the links of a little white 

 ball. It gave us an object which led us through 

 sun-warmed fields and dark woods, and on to 

 pleasant headlands, where we could rest and look 

 around at the glorious country we called " home." 



On the particular day of which I speak, and as we 

 trudged back, the rooks were gathering together in 

 great flocks on the hilly fields. Some fields were 

 black with them, and they appeared to me like a 

 great army standing at attention for the command 

 of its general. We stood watching them for a 

 minute or two, admiring the glossy black of their 

 feathers, and then, the signal being given, perhaps 

 by some old centenarian rook, they all rose together, 

 breaking with loud cawing the curious waiting 

 silence of the moment before, and making straight 

 for their ancient home in the great Ash Trees of 

 the Castle Park. 



