CURRITUCK MARSHES. 133 



the swans, there could be no difficulty in under- 

 standing every word. There were four of them, tlie 

 wise fatlier, tiie inquisitive mother, and two pretty, 

 innocent, dove-colored cygnets. They were saiHng 

 along far u]) iu the heavens, away out of danger, when 

 the attention of the young ones was attracted to a 

 nice, gentle old swan seated happily among a body 

 of geese tliat were evidently having a good time and 

 abundant food. In all the innocence of their uncor- 

 rupted hearts they uttered a shout of joy and started 

 to join him, the mother who was curious to under- 

 stand the meaning of so happy a combination, fol- 

 lowing eagerly behind them. In vain the cautious 

 father warned them to *' go slow." They would not 

 stop to listen or to heed. On they flew or swam after 

 alighting on the water, giving free expression to 

 their feelings of pleasure. Louder and louder grew 

 the warning notes of the head of the house, who 

 hung back and tried to keep the others back, but his 

 efforts were useless, the young were guileless, and 

 the foolish wife inquisitive. He was too devoted to 

 leave his family, although the danger into which 

 they were running was apparent to him. Soon his 

 w^orst fears were realized. He was out of gunshot, 

 but his wife and children were within the fatal 

 reach of the deadly gun. Several loud reports fol- 

 lowed one another, and all was over. In an instant 

 he was childless and wifeless. The two cygnets were 

 killed dead, but the mother was able to fly a hundred 

 yards, and it was pitiful to see him go to her, braving 

 all danger, and to hear his cries of lamentation. He 



