Part One: The Finding; Midwinter's Eve Summary

Will Stanton and his brother James go to the barn to feed the rabbits. The rabbits all shy away from Will. The boys continue down the road to the Dawson's farm to get hay. Passing through Rooks' Wood, they notice the birds acting strangely, too. Will notices a tramp. Mr Dawson makes an odd reference to The Walker, and predicts a bad night. As Old George brings the hay, Mr. Dawson gets Will to come inside the house. He gives Will an iron ornament for his belt and tells him to keep it safe and secret. As Will and James are leaving the farm with the hay, one of the farm dogs snarls at Will. When the boys walk back through the wood, they see the tramp again. The rooks attack the stranger...