WILD LIFE ON THE WING 
out of harm's way behind his ears. He can 
see before and behind him, and best of all in 
the dark. 
Hence he pulled up his bill with a jerk when 
something broad and bat-like whirled into the 
light, and he saw that it was as large and as 
dark as himself. Twice it somersaulted into 
the gleam and back into the darkness ; but the 
third time it fluttered like a moth at a candle, 
and then flung itself at the window, and beat 
against it in a silly frenzy. (So had Creaman 
himself once fluttered and striven with other 
seafarers before the glare of a northern light- 
house in an autumn gale.) The dog began to 
whimper anew, but the lost bird, bewildered 
and intoxicated by the light, only tapped and 
struggled on the sill. 
Suddenly the cottage door was flung open, and 
Man, maker of light where no light should 
be, strode out. He saw the woodcock at the 
window and clutched at it, but struggling 
under his hand, it fluttered free, and disappeared 
into the darkness. 
" Gosh ! " said the Man (and the people of the 
night listened apprehensively to his voice the 
voice of that dreaded hunter speaking to him- 
self of his hunting). " We'll go look for that 
chap again to-morrow, Shot, me boy." 
But Shot only tugged at his chain and whined, 
94 
