CHAPTER XXIX 

 UP THE RIVER 



The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky 

 was black ; the tide rose in great waves, and the chil- 

 dren were glad to be in the house. But the storm 

 played so many strange pranks that they could not 

 keep away from the windows, asking a hundred ques- 

 tions about things that cannot be put in a bird book. 



'' If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," 

 said Olaf, '*' it will be a week before I dare take you over 

 to Gull Island ; but I was talking to a man from up the 

 river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full 

 of Rails — maybe you'd like to see them." 



" Rails, Avhat are they? " asked Nat. " I thought 

 rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else 

 some kind of fence bars." 



" The Rails that Olaf speaks of are marsh birds," 

 said the Doctor. " Some are about as big as Robins, 

 and some are bigger still, shaped like long-legged, long- 

 necked, bob-tailed Hens, with long curved beaks. In 

 fact, some members of the family are called Marsh Hens 

 from this resemblance. Olaf often guides gunners 

 through the waterways to find these birds ; he shall 

 take you also, and perhaps you may find some old Marsh 

 Wrens' nests at the same time." 



The next morning was clear and warm, and tlie 



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