X. A Desperate Attempt at Persuasion

           Thenextmorning,atthetimewhentheheightofthesunappearedveryinsignificantfromanypartoftheheathascomparedwiththealtitudeofRainbarrow,andwhenallthelittlehillsinthelowerlevelswerelikeanarchipelagoinafog-formedAegean,thereddlemancamefromthebramblednookwhichhehadadoptedashisquartersandascendedtheslopesofMistoverKnap.

           Thoughtheseshaggyhillswereapparentlysosolitary,severalkeenroundeyeswerealwaysreadyonsuchawintrymorningasthistoconvergeuponapasser-by.Featheredspeciessojournedhereinhidingwhichwouldhavecreatedwonderiffoundelsewhere.Abustardhauntedthespot,andnotmanyyearsbeforethisfiveandtwentymighthavebeenseeninEgdonatonetime.Marsh-harrierslookedupfromthevalleybyWildeve’s.Acream-colouredcourserhadusedtovisitthishill,abirdsorarethatnotmorethanadozenhaveeverbeenseeninEngland;butabarbarianrestedneithernightnordaytillhehadshottheAfricantruant,andafterthateventcream-colouredcoursersthoughtfittoenterEgdonnomore.

           AtravellerwhoshouldwalkandobserveanyofthesevisitantsasVennobservedthemnowcouldfeelhimselftobeindirectcommunicationwithregionsunknowntoman.Hereinfrontofhimwasawildmallard—justarrivedfromthehomeofthenorthwind.ThecreaturebroughtwithinhimanamplitudeofNorthernknowledge.Glacialcatastrophes,snowstormepisodes,glitteringauroraleffects,Polarisinthezenith,Franklinunderfoot—thecategoryofhiscommonplaceswaswonderful.