More Tales of the Birds 



separated as they emerged from a great forest 

 to the northwards, and then ran at a wide angle 

 down a gentle slope of corn-land and meadow. 

 In the hollow near to the western road lay the 

 farmhouse, whose owners had been seen depart- 

 ing by the Skylarks, standing in a little enclosure 

 of yard and orchard ; near the other road, but 

 higher up the slope, was another homestead. 

 On the edge of the slope, connecting the two 

 main roads, ran a little cart-track, seldom used ; 

 just such a deeply-rutted track as you may see 

 on the slope of a south-country down, cutting 

 rather deeply into the ground in some places, so 

 that a man walking up to it along the grass 

 slope might take an easy jump from the edge 

 into the ruts, and need a vigorous step or two 

 to mount on the other side. Just under this edge 

 of the grass-field, and close to the track, the 

 Larks had placed their nest ; for the grass of the 

 field, cropped close by sheep, offered them little 

 cover ; and they did not mind the cart or waggon 

 that once in two or three days rolled lazily by 

 their home, driven by a drowsy countryman in a 

 short blue frock. 



