3 o8 BROADLAND SPORT 



and separated at greater distances. Then we noticed that 

 we had left the upland behind us and had entered a region 

 as flat as the Netherlands. On either hand a broad dyke 

 yawned to receive us should the mare shy as some evil- 

 disposed quadrupeds of this class are often wont to do. 



Broken clouds had been chasing each other all day across 

 the sky, and, as soon as the sun had set, rain, sleet and hail 

 alternated. The wind had gradually increased, and was 

 blowing almost a hurricane, north-east by east, full in our 

 faces. When we left the uplands and emerged on to the 

 road over the bleak, unsheltered marsh, we felt its full 

 force and keenness, whilst far away to the eastward, where 

 we knew were located the sandhills which kept the sea 

 from the marshland, lightning flashed at irregular intervals. 



The moon did not rise until late, and what few stars 

 managed to struggle through the angry-looking clouds over- 

 head only seemed to intensify the darkness of the fast-gather- 

 ing night. That drive was an experience. Conversation was 

 too laborious to be pleasant, whilst the sleet and hail cut the 

 face and seemed to chill the very marrow in our bones. 

 Every now and again the dim outline of some gaunt old 

 watermill would suddenly spring up in the path and tower 

 above us, the wind howling and shrieking round its shutters 

 in a manner tending to arouse one's superstitions and to 

 remind one of the erratic ramblings and heroic deeds of Don 

 Quixote de la Mancha. 



If the windmills passed reminded us of this insane hero 

 of ancient times our steed did so the more. Like the trusty 

 Kozinante the mare was slow beyond comparison, and 

 stumbled frequently in the deep ruts now full to overflow- 

 ing with slush from recent rain or an uprising tide. The 

 intense darkness added to the difficulties of progression, and 

 an occasional gleam of some reflected light in the waters of 

 broad, soft-bottomed dykes on either side gave warning of ^ 

 what we might expect should the animal take a false turn 

 or play tricks, and, to make matters worse, both the gig-lamps 

 had been extinguished by the boisterous wind. But it 



