Chapter 2

           Wepulledoutthemaps,anddiscussedplans. 

           WearrangedtostartonthefollowingSaturdayfromKingston. HarrisandIwouldgodowninthemorning,andtaketheboatuptoChertsey,andGeorge,whowouldnotbeabletogetawayfromtheCitytilltheafternoon(Georgegoestosleepatabankfromtentofoureachday,exceptSaturdays,whentheywakehimupandputhimoutsideattwo),wouldmeetusthere. 

           Shouldwe"campout"orsleepatinns? 

           GeorgeandIwereforcampingout. Wesaiditwouldbesowildandfree,sopatriarchallike. 

           Slowlythegoldenmemoryofthedeadsunfadesfromtheheartsofthecold,sadclouds. Silent,likesorrowingchildren,thebirdshaveceasedtheirsong,andonlythemoorhen’splaintivecryandtheharshcroakofthecorncrakestirstheawedhusharoundthecouchofwaters,wherethedyingdaybreathesoutherlast. 

           Fromthedimwoodsoneitherbank,Night’sghostlyarmy,thegreyshadows,creepoutwithnoiselesstreadtochaseawaythelingeringrear-guardofthelight,andpass,withnoiseless,unseenfeet,abovethewavingriver-grass,andthroughthesighingrushes; andNight,uponhersombrethrone,foldsherblackwingsabovethedarkeningworld,and,fromherphantompalace,litbythepalestars,reignsinstillness. 

           Thenwerunourlittleboatintosomequietnook,andthetentispitched,andthefrugalsuppercookedandeaten.