The Weathercock

"Oh, I say, here's a game! What's he up to now?" "Hi! Vane! Old weathercock! Hold hard!" "Do you hear? Which way does the wind blow?" Three salutations shouted at a lad of about sixteen, who had just shown himself at the edge of a wood on the sunny slope of the Southwolds, one glorious September morning, when the spider-webs were still glittering with iridescent colours, as if every tiny strand were strung with diamonds, emeralds and amethysts, and the thick green moss that clothed the nut stubbs was one glorious sheen of topaz, sapphire and gold.