THE WATER-HEN 
struck at it. Feint and cut and feint. Cearc- 
uise, " kek-keking " hysterically, swam up and 
down as they flapped on the grass. Karruck 
was nearest the edge, and before he was aware 
of his danger he was driven backwards into 
the water. Immediately the other was upon 
him, and buffeted him with feet and pinions. 
One claw ripped Karruck's wing underneath 
where the feathers were soft, and striking the 
hard bone numbed the limb. Karruck, half- 
dazed, turned and fluttered unsteadily ashore. 
The victor crowed a defiance across the Pool : 
Cearc-uise submitted willy-nilly, for such is 
wood law. 
For two days and a night the dominion of the 
Pool was usurped. Karruck nursed his torn 
wing, and only ventured out to feed or bathe 
when his enemy was off guard. The bully 
was a heavy bird, for he had wintered among 
the sheltered islands below the Mill ; and 
though there were skirmishes almost every 
hour, Karruck was hunted away every time, 
for his wing was still stiff and unserviceable. 
The second day was wet, and then both parties 
skulked in the rushes, for they could not fish 
in the rain-dappled Pool. Several times Cearc- 
uise came out and headed towards the crooked 
alder where Karruck had taken covert, but 
9 
