The Sandpipers 71 



eldest chick wanted badly to be out again, and 

 all the more because he heard the roar of the 

 river below him, and could hear its waves 

 leaping and splashing on the rocky promontory 

 in the side of which they were sheltered. So, 

 without saying a word to the rest, he got up 

 and went out of the hole on to a little ledge of 

 rock which overhung the water. 



What a sight it was ! Dark-brown water 

 rushing madly down into the pool, carrying with 

 it logs and branches of trees with all the glory 

 of fresh foliage wasted, and then the pool itself 

 no longer golden-brown and clear, but black as 

 ink, and flecked with creamy patches of surf. 

 But the wind seemed lighter, and there were 

 the Sandmartins, who had their nests in the cliff, 

 flitting up and down just over the water as if 

 nothing had happened, and there too was the 

 friendly Grey Wagtail, with his long tail going 

 up and down just the same as ever. Feeling 

 that he might safely see more still, that adven- 

 turous young bird trotted round the corner of 

 the ledge. 



In a twinkling the wind had carried him off 



