Below, his home field, his wall-enclosed patch of kitchen garden, the long, low house itself lay like pieces from a child's play-box stretched out upon the carpet.

Only to-night there was no mist.

They made their cautious way downwards through the clearest of darkening atmospheres.

On the hillsides, as they dropped down, they could hear the music of an occasional sheep bell.

Rabbits scurried away from the headlights of the car, an early owl flew hooting over their heads.