IN QUEST OF RAVENS 49 



trees, still shouting as he flew. He was no 

 rarity in these parts, but it did me good to 

 see his flaming crest and the flash of his 

 white wing-spots. Then, when I had gone 

 a little farther and could already discern the 

 open valley, a kingfisher rattled and showed 

 himself. He was the first of his kind, and 

 went down straightway as Number 62. Per- 

 haps Number 63 would be the raven ! 



Well, I emerged from the forest, the road 

 turning rather sharply at the last and mak- 

 ing down the valley with a brook on its left 

 hand ; and here I pretty soon approached a 

 house. The two opposite doors were open 

 (mosquitoes are unknown in this happy 

 country), and inside, looking out of the back 

 door in the direction of the brook, stood a 

 woman and a brood of children. They were 

 talking pretty loudly, as people may who 

 live so far from human neighbors, and a 

 hound stood silent behind them. I drew 

 near, but they did not hear me. Then, 

 rather than startle them rudely with a 

 strange voice, I touched the fence-rail with 

 my umbrella. Instantly the hound turned 

 and began baying, and the woman, bidding 

 him be quiet, came to the front door and 



