THE FERNY MOORLANDS. 
sudden flight across the path of a rabbit; the 
rolling, hurry-scurrying contortions of a snake, 
which our unexpected appearance has sur- 
prised, basking in the tiny gleam of sunshine 
which has fallen on to the greensward through 
an opening in the trees overhead ; the heavy 
splash in the river on our left, as a water-rat, 
which had not dreamed of our unwelcome intru- 
sion, takes the shortest and readiest path to his 
hole, diving one moment in one place into the 
stream, to reappear the next somewhere else, 
under the belief that meanwhile we may think 
that his power of holding his breath is unlimited ; 
or the lighter splash of a trout, as, unaware of 
our presence, it rises in the dark, deep pool near 
us at the tempting palmer-fly that has just dropped 
from the bushes. All these sights and sounds 
contribute to the delight of this river-side ramble. 
Or we may rest for a moment, and, peering cau- 
tiously around us, so as not to disturb the free 
inhabitants of this woodland, admire and enjoy 
their unrestrained movements. The snake will 
wriggle on to the sunlit path again ; the rabbit 
will come quietly out from his hiding-place; the 
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