The Track Near the Marsh 109 



immediate start was essential, not to win cups or for the 

 cheers of the spectators, but to save the life of the starter. 

 The hawk, to live, must have a victim, and that victim would 

 be the bird which in its training had failed to attain the 

 wariness and speed necessary to avoid this constant menace 

 by a predator which made its attack doubly efficient by sur- 

 prise and high speed. It was penalties such as these that 

 made professionals of these marsh contestants. 



