Purple heath, golden gorse, and tufts of broom. Tall pines with
branches like steps to tempt you to climb. Regular precipices after
climbing above the sand-pit, from which you could jump into the soft
sand, and then slide and roll down to the bottom. Once I jumped upon a
little promontory high above the slope, and it gave way, and I slid down
on about a ton of matted root and earth and sand.
Then we climbed to the sand-martins' nests, and slipped down or rolled
down, and climbed again, and along ledges, and thrust in our arms, but
nesting was over for the year, and the swift little birds made their
nurseries beyond our reach, for we did not find the bottom of one single
hole.
Shock was full of fun, and shouted and threw sand at Juno, who barked,
and made believe to bite him, and rolled over and over with him down
some slope, to be half buried in the sand at the bottom.
We soon forgot all about Ike, but we once smelt a whiff of tobacco,
which seemed to be mingled with the sweet scent of the pines in the hot
sunshine.
There were butterflies, too, red admirals, that came flitting into the
sandy bottom, and settled on the face of the sandy cliff, but always
sailed away before we got near. Then we went out on to the wild
heathery waste to the south, and chased lizards in the dry short growth.
Then Shock uttered an excited cry and drew back Juno, who was sniffing,
and struck two or three rapid blows at something, ending by stooping and
raising a little writhing serpent by the tail.
"Nedder," he said, and he crushed it beneath his heel.
There were grasshoppers, too, by the thousand, and furze, and
stone-chats flitting from bush to bush, while sometimes a dove winged
its way overheard, or uttered its deep coo from the pine-wood at the
foot of the hill.
Delicious blue sky overhead; a view all about that seemed to fade into a
delicious bluey pink; and the sweet warm odour of the earth rising to be
breathed and drunk in and enjoyed; the place seemed to me a very
paradise, and the dog appeared to enjoy it as much as I.
Shock rarely spoke to me, but he did not turn his back. The boy was as
excited as the dog, going down on all-fours to push his way amongst the
heath and broom, and scratch some hole bigger where it was evident that
a rabbit had made his home. Then he was after a butterfly; then
stalking a bird, as if he expected to catch it without the proverbial
salt for its tail; and I'm afraid I was just as wild.
I don't know that I need say afraid, for our amusement was innocent
enough, and you must remember that we were two boys, who resembled Juno,
the dog, in this respect that we were let loose for a time, and enjoying
the freedom of a scamper over the hills.