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THE LONG MAN OF WILMINGTON 127
Priory, but it is probably pre-historic. But the most attractive theory is that the figure is an image of Pol, the Sun God, pushing open the gates of darkness, and the town of Polegate, a railway junction near by, is put forward to strengthen the explanation.
I made friends at Wilmington. A shepherd, and the master of an inn, and a dog. It happened like this. I, making up my mind to enjoy a peace-pipe and a measure of ale, had just settled down in the snug back-room of the inn, when there strode in a tall brown-faced giant with grey whiskers and blue eyes. He called to his sheepdog " Old Ben," and it bounded in after him.
The dog scampered about with a great deal of noise and his master said " Evening! " in a loud happy voice. Then he called for a pint of " that stuff," and sat down on the bench sighing deeply.
I looked up. He was looking at me. I tilted my mug and said, " Here's to you."
Fifteen minutes later saw us seated with the landlord, the dog with his nose muzzled against my knee, discussing all manner of things. Also we talked of the fascinating history and evolution of dew ponds. The shepherd was a mine of information on the subject. His father had been accustomed to make sheep-ponds. I told him |
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