SHE HAD FOUND SOMETHING. 183 



every migration, over the hundred or two, more 

 or less, varieties that made this wood a resting- 

 place on their way. Now, I could resist the 

 birds by never looking at them, but I could not 

 resist my friend's enthusiasm; so when she 

 started on a warbler trail, I generall}^ followed, 

 as a matter of course. And I admit that the 

 blue, to w^hich we shortened his name, was a 

 beauty and a charming singer. 



I passed quietly up the road toward the con- 

 tinued low calls, and soon saw the student, not 

 far from the path, in a clearer spot than usual, 

 sitting against a maple sapling, wath her four- 

 footed protector at her feet. When I came in 

 sight she beckoned eagerly but silently, and I 

 knew she had found something; probably the 

 nest, I thought. As quietly as might be under 

 the circumstances (namely, a passage through 

 dead leaves, brittle twigs, unexpected hollows, 

 etc.), I crept to her side, planted my camp-stool 

 near hers, and sat down, in obedience to her 

 imperious gesture. 



"Now look," she whispered, pointing to a 

 nest in plain sight. 



"Why that's the redstart nest we saw yes- 

 terday from the road," I answered in the same 

 tone, somewhat disappointed, it must be said, 

 for redstart nests were on about every third sap- 

 ling in the woods. 



