THE WATER-HEN 
stream three inches deep flowed through the 
ditch on the nearer side, for the earth was so 
parched that at first all the rain ran off it as 
from brass. The chick listened to the sound of 
running water thankfully, for he believed that 
this was to be the end of their journey, but his 
mother ran down the fence and he dared not 
remain behind. It was too dark even to see 
her white tail-coverts, but at her " kek " of 
encouragement he plunged boldly into the 
coldest water he had ever known, and, struggling 
across, found himself in the next field. 
The thunder was dying away in the distance, 
though the lightning flashed as vividly as ever ; 
but the rain still fell with a soft rushing like 
the heaving of enormous sighs, and even Garra- 
gurt the Corncrake was silent under the down- 
pour. The long grass was beaten down in 
dank swathes, and new sweet smells were 
beginning to rise from it. The cattle stood in 
a group by the hedge with the water running 
from their sides. They did not see the moor- 
hens as 'they passed. From the wood behind 
came the sound of water running down old 
dusty channels to which it had long been a 
stranger, but Cearc-uise never made any mis- 
take. The Dark Pool might be filled to the 
brim once more, but she would not return 
thither. She kept straight on to the river, 
37 
