164 The Flock of Sanderlings. [cuap. 1x. 
his senses, his memory remained almost a complete blank. He 
had a vague idea of crossing the links, and seeing some sol- 
diers at the foot of the Broadhill. But beyond that he re- 
membered next to nothing. Unlike a dream, of which one 
remembers some confused ideas, this blank in his mental 
life was never filled up, and the purpose for which he wan- 
dered along the sands left little further impression upon his 
memory. He remembered, however, the following circum- 
stances: : 
He had thrown off his hat, coat, and waistcoat before 
rushing into the sea, when a flock of sanderlings lighted 
upon the sands near him. They attracted his attention. 
They were running to and fro, some piping their low, shrill 
whistle, while others were probing the wet sand with their 
bills as the waves receded. But among them was another 
bird, larger and darker, and apparently of different habits 
from the others. Desirous of knowing something of the 
nature of this bird, he approached the sanderlings. They 
rose and flew away. He followed them. They lighted 
again, and again he observed the birds as before. Away 
they went, and he after them. At length he was stopped 
at Don mouth. When he recovered his consciousness, he 
was watching the flock of birds flying away to the farther 
side of the river. He had forgotten all his miseries in his 
intense love of nature. His ruling passion saved him. 
How long the chase lasted he never could tell. It must 
have occupied him more than an hour. He found himself 
divested of. his hat, coat, and vest; and he went back to 
look for them. He had no further desire to carry out the 
purpose for which he had descended to the sea. His only 
thought was about the strange bird among the sanderlings: 
“What could it be?” Perhaps the bird had been his Prov- 
idence. He tried to think so. 
In the mean time he was very cold. He found his coat, 
vest, and hat a long way down the beach. On his return, 
he found that he had been followed by some people, who 
