Woodpecker, while sleeping safe and 

 snug, as she thought, in her well-protected 

 nest in the heart of the old apple-tree, 

 but I will give you each link in the 

 evidence and you can put it together for 

 yourself. 



I was fishing along the little brook, 

 which was a favourite stream with me, 

 as well as with the raccoon. 



I first noticed the tracks in the mud 

 along the brook and then the entrails of 

 the sucker, whom I identified by his 

 head, which the old epicurean had left. 

 Through the tall meadow grass I tracked 

 him as easily as though it had been in 

 snow, to the empty woodcock's nest, 

 where the egg shells had not yet dried. 

 Again the swale grass stood me in good 

 stead, for it was still pressed down where 

 he left a trail to the orchard. There at 

 the foot of the old apple-tree was seen 



