The silence of the forest was broken only by the rhythmic cries of the bearers and the pat-pat of their feet.

The officer crouched and hurried across and so did we, but just before we did so, up out of the field where they had been mowing, straight through this gap, came a little company of barefooted peasant women with their bundles of gleanings on their heads, and talking in that singsong monotone of theirs, as detached as so many birds, they went pat-patting across the bridge.

He is very affectionate, and will run to meet me, throw his little arms round my neck and keep pat-pat-patting me, with delight.

He is very affectionate, and will run to meet me, throw his little arms round my neck and keep pat-pat-patting me, with delight.

R-r-r-ring!" Ashton-Kirk heard a door open and close softly on the floor above; then slippered feet came pat-patting down the stairs.