As the trees died, the rooks moved to the next clump, and thus gradually shifted their city.
This inquiry led to further reflections about the past of the woods and meadows.

Besides the birds, the flowers, and animals that had been there for so many, many centuries, there were the folk in the scattered homesteads, whose ancestors might have left some record.

In these times history is concerned only with great cities or strategical positions of world-wide renown; interest is concentrated on a siege of Paris or a march towards Constantinople.

In days of yore battles were often fought in or near what seem to us mere villages; little places whose very names are uncertain and exact site unascertainable were the centres of strife.

Some of these places are buried under the sward as completely as Herculaneum under the lava.