WE WALK ACROSS gl 
clusion that a pair of heavy shooting-boots hanging 
round the neck was one of the worst devices. So we 
hid them. We laid them up by the grey goose’s nest 
just above the ford. 
The male peregrine was still hanging about the neigh- 
bourhood of the eyrie. Rising at our approach he 
mounted high into the air and flew round and round 
watching all our movements, and screaming wildly from 
time to time. 
We were not to cross the river so easily this time. 
The water had risen. 
Thinking it might be just a spate from the day’s snow- 
melting, it seemed best to curl up for a sleep and wait 
for a fall in the flood. 
It was not easy to find a suitable corner. The bank 
at this point dropped very suddenly to the water’s edgé 
where it was not wholly covered with snow, it was almost 
worse ; mud ina semi-liquid state, slipping down in great 
treacle-like masses. 
At last we found two places about forty yards apart, 
either of them capable of holding one man if he curled 
up close. The bank had become undermined and there 
had followed a land-slip, leaving a hollow ledge above. 
Hyland took one, I the other. 
As I lay down there was a flutter under my head, and 
out of a hole slipped a little snow-bunting. So I turned 
my head and looked down, and there was her nest with 
six lovely little eggs. After that I just changed my 
