The Mead. 211 



it to a pond, knowing that nothing but water will 

 make it unroll voluntarily' — no knocks or kicks ; 

 but the moment it touches the water it uncoils. 

 Now and then a laborer will cook a hedgehog and 

 eat it ; some of them will eat a full-grown rook at 

 an}' time they chance to shoot it, notwithstanding the 

 bitter flavor of the bird, onl}- taking out a part of the 

 back. Those who have had some association with 

 the gipsies or semi-gipsies seem most addicted to 

 this kind of food. 



In the opposite direction to the ash copse, and 

 about half a mile north of Wick farmhouse, there 

 rises above the oak and ash trees what looks like the 

 topmast and 3'ard of a ship lying at anchor or in dock, 

 the hull hidden by the branches. It is the top of an 

 immensely tall and gaunt fir tree, whose thin and 

 perhaps dying boughs project almost at right angles. 

 This landmark, visible over the level meadows for 

 a considerable distance, stands in that little enclosed 

 meadow which has once before been mentioned 

 as one of the favorite resorts of birds and wild 

 animals. 



From the ash copse the travelling parties come 

 down the highway hedge to the orchard : then, cross- 

 ing the orchard and road, they enter another thick 

 hedge, which continues in the same general direction ; 

 and finall}', following it, arrive at this small green 

 mead walled in by trees and mounds so broad as to 

 resemble elongated copses. The mead itself ma}'' 

 perhaps be two acres in extent, but it does not appear 

 so much : the part visible on first glancing over the 

 gateway can hardl}' exceed an acre. The rest is 

 formed of nooks — deep indentations, so to say — not 



