A BROOK 



branch and remained entangled in it. Fresh weeds 

 were still coming and adding to the mass, which 

 had attracted a water-rat. 



Perched on the branch, the little brown creature 

 bent forward over the surface, and with its two 

 forepaws drew towards it the slender thread of a 

 weed, exactly as with hands. Holding the thread 

 in the paws, it nibbled it, eating the sweet and 

 tender portion, feeding without fear, though but a 

 few feet away, and precisely beneath me. 



In a minute the surface of the current was dis- 

 turbed by larger ripples. There had been a ripple 

 caused by the draught through the arch, but this 

 was now increased. Directly afterwards a moor- 

 hen swam out, and began to search among the 

 edge of the tangled weeds. So long as I was 

 perfectly still the bird took no heed, but at a slight 

 movement instantly scuttled back under the arch. 

 The water-rat, less timorous, paused, looked round, 

 and returned to feeding. 



Crossing to the other side of the bridge, up 

 stream, and looking over, the current had scooped 

 away the sand of the bottom by the central pier, 

 exposing the brickwork to some depth the same 

 undermining process that goes on by the piers of 

 bridges over great rivers. Nearer the shore the 

 sand has silted up, leaving it shallow, where water- 

 parsnip and other weeds joined, as it were, the 

 5 -65- 



