He shook the wet seaweed off his rough clothes, and, having lit a short briar pipe, set to work to hunt for the duck and the first curfew.

He found them easily enough, and then, walking to the edge of the rocks, up the sides of which the tide was gradually creeping, peered into the mist to see if he could find the other.

Presently the fog lifted a little, and he discovered the bird floating on the oily water about fifty yards away.

A little to the left the rocks ran out in a peak, and he knew from experience that the tide setting towards the shore would carry the curlew past this peak.

So he went to its extremity, sat down upon a big stone and waited.