236 FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



of the cows chewing their cud as they rest on the 

 grass, or the snort and blow of the horses feeding ; 

 but these are the only sounds likely to be heard. 

 If any one passes through meadows in the dark, 

 let him avoid, if possible, stumbling over horned 

 cattle. One is apt to rise in a very wild manner, 

 and then the others take alarm and come pounding 

 and cavoorting round in an ungainly but at the 

 same time demonstrative fashion. One night, after 

 a slight mishap of this kind, I had to clear out as 

 quickly as possible. 



It will be the turn of the night shortly. Nothing 

 but the starlit sky above, and the woods and fields 

 around the farms, showing darker than the trees, 

 because no light can pass through them. This 

 is considered the most critical time by all wood- 

 land watchers of the sick : they say — I have heard 

 them say it often in past days — that if they can 

 "wrastle with the powers o' night an' mornin', 

 they will go another turn, to pass away when the 

 next night falls." 



We are back once more to within hearing of 

 the rush of the tide, — we are surrounded by it, 

 and it is dead winter, the whole island covered 



