194 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



was not worth a thought ! The fight was the thing, 

 and she must listen in silence to the story of it — she, 

 the last human listener he would ever have. 



Suddenly the torrent of speech is arrested ; the voice 

 of the blackbird " sweet and soft and peaceful," comes 

 to them out of the darkness. Hark ! he cries to her 

 before vanishing for ever from her sight, 



I hear the dusky ouzel send a joyous greeting to the faithful, 



My speech, my shape, are spectral — hush, woman, do not speak to me ! 



