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it was all really true； as one by one the scents and sounds and names of
long…forgotten places come gradually back and beckon to us。'
‘Couldn't you stop on for just this year？' suggested the Water Rat；
wistfully。 ‘We'll all do our best to make you feel at home。 You've no idea
what good times we have here； while you are far away。'
‘I tried 〃stopping on〃 one year；' said the third swallow。 ‘I had grown so
fond of the place that when the time came I hung back and let the others
go on without me。 For a few weeks it was all well enough； but afterwards；
O the weary length of the nights！ The shivering； sunless days！ The air so
clammy and chill； and not an insect in an acre of it！ No； it was no good；
my courage broke down； and one cold； stormy night I took wing； flying
well inland on account of the strong easterly gales。 It was snowing hard as
I beat through the passes of the great mountains； and I had a stiff fight to
win through； but never shall I forget the blissful feeling of the hot sun
again on my back as I sped down to the lakes that lay so blue and placid
below me； and the taste of my first fat insect！ The past was like a bad
dream； the future was all happy holiday as I moved southwards week by
week； easily； lazily； lingering as long as I dared； but always heeding the
call！ No； I had had my warning； never again did I think of disobedience。'
‘Ah； yes； the call of the South； of the South！' twittered the other two
dreamily。 ‘Its songs its hues； its radiant air！ O； do you remember' and；
forgetting the Rat； they slid into passionate reminiscence； while he listened
fascinated； and his heart burned within him。 In himself； too； he knew that
it was vibrating at last； that chord hitherto dormant and unsuspected。 The
mere chatter of these southern…bound birds； their pale and second…hand
reports； had yet power to awaken this wild new sensation and thrill him
through and through with it； what would one moment of the real thing
work in himone passionate touch of the real southern sun； one waft of
the authentic odor？ With closed eyes he dared to dream a moment in full
abandonment； and when he looked again the river seemed steely and chill；
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the green fields grey and lightless。 Then his loyal heart seemed to cry out
on his weaker self for its treachery。
‘Why do you ever come back； then； at all？' he demanded of the
swallows jealously。 ‘What do you find to attract you in this poor drab little
country？'
‘And do you think；' said the first swallow； ‘that the other call is not for
us too； in its due season？ The call of lush meadow… grass； wet orchards；
warm； insect…haunted ponds； of browsing cattle； of haymaking； and all the
farm…buildings clustering round the House of the perfect Eaves？'
‘Do you suppose；' asked the second one； that you are the only living
thing that craves with a hungry longing to hear the cuckoo's note again？'
‘In due time；' said the third； ‘we shall be home…sick once more for
quiet water…lilies swaying on the surface of an English stream。 But to…day
all that seems pale and thin and very far away。 Just now our blood dances
to other music。'
They fell a…twittering among themselves once more； and this time their
intoxicating babble was of violet seas； tawny sands； and lizard…haunted
walls。
Restlessly the Rat wandered off once more； climbed the slope that rose
gently from the north bank of the river； and lay looking out towards the
great ring of Downs that barred his vision further southwardshis simple
horizon hitherto； his Mountains of the Moon； his limit behind which lay
nothing he had cared to see or to know。 To…day； to him gazing South with a
new…born need stirring in his heart； the clear sky over their long low
outline seemed to pulsate with promise； to…day； the unseen was everything；
the unknown the only real fact of life。 On this side of the hills was now the
real blank； on the other lay the crowded and coloured panorama that his
inner eye was seeing so clearly。 What seas lay beyond； green； leaping； and
crested！ What sun…bathed coasts； along which the white villas glittered
against the olive woods！ What quiet harbours； thronged with gallant
shipping bound for purple islands of wine and spice； islands set low in
languorous waters！
He rose and descended river…wards once more； then changed his mind
and sought the side of the dusty lane。 There； lying half… buried in the thick；
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cool under…hedge tangle that bordered it； he could muse on the metalled
road and all the wondrous world that it led to； on all the wayfarers； too；
that might have trodden it； and the fortunes and adventures they had gone
to seek or found unseekingout there； beyondbeyond！
Footsteps fell on his ear； and the figure of one that walked somewhat
wearily came into view； and he saw that it was a Rat； and a very dusty one。
The wayfarer； as he reached him； saluted with a gesture of courtesy that
had something foreign about it hesitated a momentthen with a pleasant
smile turned from the track and sat down by his side in the cool herbage。
He seemed tired； and the Rat let him rest unquestioned； understanding
something of what was in his thoughts； knowing； too； the value all animals
attach at times to mere silent companionship； when the weary muscles
slacken and the mind marks time。
The wayfarer was lean and keen…featured； and somewhat bowed at the
shoulders； his paws were thin and long； his eyes much wrinkled at the
corners； and he wore small gold ear rings in his neatly…set well…shaped
ears。 His knitted jersey was of a faded blue； his breeches； patched and
stained； were based on a blue foundation； and his small belongings that he
carried were tied up in a blue cotton handkerchief。
When he had rested awhile the stranger sighed； snuffed the air； and
looked about him。
‘That was clover； that warm whiff on the breeze；' he remarked； ‘and
those are cows we hear cropping the grass behind us and blowing softly
between mouthfuls。 There is a sound of distant reapers； and yonder rises a
blue line of cottage smoke against the woodland。 The river runs
somewhere close by； for I hear the call of a moorhen； and I see by your
build that you're a freshwater mariner。 Everything seems asleep； and yet
going on all the time。 It is a goodly life that you lead； friend； no doubt the
best in the world； if only you are strong enough to lead it！'
‘Yes； it's THE life； the only life； to live；' responded the Water Rat
dreamily； and without his usual whole…hearted conviction。
‘I did not say exactly that；' replied the stranger cautiously； ‘but no
doubt it's the best。 I've tried it； and I know。 And because I've just tried it
six months of itand know it's the best； here am I； footsore and hungry；
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tramping away from it； tramping southward； following the old call； back to
the old life； THE life which is mine and which will not let me go。'
‘Is this； then； yet another of them？' mused the Rat。 ‘And where have
you just come from？' he asked。 He