16 TRAMPS WITH AN ENTHUSIAST. 



tree - trunks, under drooping branches, and 

 through unyielding brush; now sinking ankle- 

 deep in a pile of dead leaves, now catching my 

 hair in a broken branch, and now nearly falling 

 over a concealed root ; wading through swamps, 

 sliding down banks, cutting and tearing our 

 shoes, and leaving bits of our garments every- 

 where. On we went recklessly, intent upon one 

 thing only, — seeing the bird who, enthroned on 

 his tree-top, calmly and serenely uttered his 

 musical " see-e he-e-re ! " while we struggled 

 and scrambled and fought our way down below. 



We reached a steep bank, and paused a mo- 

 ment, breathless, disheveled, my interest in the 

 beguiler long ago cooled. 



" There 's a brook down there," I said has- 

 tily ; " we can't cross it." 



Could we not ? But we did, at the expense 

 of a little further rending, and the addition of 

 wet feet to our other discomforts. But at last ! 

 at last! we came in sight of our bird, a mere 

 black speck against the sky. 



" It 's a flycatcher ! " exclaimed my compan- 

 ion eagerly. " See his attitude ! I must get 

 around the other side ! " and on we went again. 

 A fence loomed before us, a fence of brush, 

 impossible to get through, and almost as impos- 

 sible to get over. But what were any of man's 

 devices to an easier bird-hunter! Over that 



