104 WILD LIFE IN THE TREE TOPS 



How sadly I Wished that the string had not been so slack ! In any case 

 it must be tighter next time, and I straightway gathered in as much as I dared 

 without releasing the shutter, and once more awaited the coming of the Crow. 



And at last once again she came on to the dead elm : once again she 

 swung on to the nest to face the yawning youngsters, and once again the string 

 was pulled in vain. 



So there was nothing for it but to crawl out of the hiding-place, and climb 

 up the camera tree to disentangle the string ; and incidentally to reset the 

 shutter which had acted after the Crow had left the nest. And then to enter 

 the dug-out once more. 



But here a fresh difficulty presented itself, for soaring high in the air above 

 were both of the Crows, intently watching everything that was going on below. 



I realized that it would be hopeless to walk openly, and enter the hide 

 whilst the Crows were thus looking on ; and conceived the bright idea of endeav- 

 ouring to outwit them by an ingenious subterfuge. 



It happened that the hiding-place was constructed in a ditch at the corner 

 of a field of growing oats, and I thought that, if I waited until the Crows had 

 settled — as they generally did — on the distant marshes, I might quite well 

 crawl on hands and knees through the oats, and thus enter the hide without 

 being seen. 



And in due course, the Crows having settled in the desired manner, I 

 commenced my arduous and — owing to the presence of numerous thistles — 

 painful journey through the oat-field. At last I had reached the edge of the 

 oats, and only had to cross a yard or so of rough grass before I should be safely 

 in the hide again. 



And as I crossed the small piece of comparatively open country, I chanced 

 to glance sideways to see both of the Crows seated on a couple of tall poles on 

 the marshes, gazing suspiciously at my amateurish antics ! 



So, feeling thoroughly annoyed — and very stupid — I set out in search of 

 my companion — only to find that he had completely vanished. 



And after a good tramp around the country in search of him, I eventually 

 enrolled the services of a shepherd, who promised to see me safely into the 

 hiding-place, and then to withdraw as noisily as possible. 



And when he had gone, I pondered over my chances of being successful 

 this time. The string was now in a position where it could not be seen from 

 the nest — not even by the Crow. My entrance into the hide had been cleverly 

 executed ; the Crows would surely soon go on to the nest to feed, and the 

 light was unusually good. 



As I thought over these things, one of the Crows returned to the top of 

 the dead elm, and for the first time during this trying day, I felt quite delighted 

 at the prospect of making an exposure so soon. 



But an instant later my heart sank within me. The kindly shepherd had 



