FAREWELL. 171 



some minutes, finally braved the human pres- 

 ence and made a rush for the little fellow about 

 half his size. Whether war or welcome moved 

 him was not evident, for away they flew across 

 the nook, not more than a foot apart, now 

 sweeping low over the grass, then mounting 

 higher to pass over the shrubs that defined it. 

 A hundred feet or more the chase continued, 

 and then the smaller bird dropped into a low 

 bush, and the larger one passed on. 



Then lonely, with empty cage and a happy 

 heart-ache, his friend turned away and left the 

 beautiful bird to his fate, assured that he was 

 well able to supply his needs and to protect 

 himself — in a word, to be free. 



