THE DOG BECOMES INTERESTED. 73 



to follow that " wandering voice," to see that 

 singer. 



Silently we arose, folded our camp-stools, and 

 started. We wished to move without sound ; but 

 the woods were dry, and every dead stick snapped 

 with a crack; every fallen leaf rustled with 

 a startling sound ; every squirrel under whose 

 tree we chanced to pass first shrieked, and then 

 subsided into a sobbing cry or a scolding bark, 

 according as his fur was gray or red. A joro- 

 cession of elephants could hardly make more 

 noise, or create more consternation among the 

 residents of the forest, than we three (count- 

 ing the dog), when we wished to be silent as 

 shadows. But the wren sang on. Evidently, 

 he was accustomed to squirrel vagaries, and 

 snapping twigs did not disturb him. Nearer 

 and nearer sounded the song, and more and 

 more enraptured we became. We were settling 

 ourselves to listen and to look for our charmer, 

 when the third member of our party created a 

 diversion. Wrens had no attraction for him, 

 but he came upon the scent of something he 

 was interested in, and instantly fell to pawing 

 the ground and tearing up the obstructing roots 

 with his teeth, as though he had gone suddenly 

 mad. 



The door through which had doubtless van- 

 ished some delectable mouse or mole was, when 



