XYII. 



With Franceschini Another barometer "Good-day, Major!" A mysteri- 

 ous voice Uncle Bob begins to fancy the keeper's house must be haunted 

 Jacob A fable of La Fontaine realised The Norman character 

 makes itself evident even in birds - Rene's classification Honest men and 

 brigands Day thieves and nocturnal prowlers The waders and web- 

 feet Climbers Gallinaceous birds Passerine birds Jacob sadly out 

 of place Franceschini insists on a new classification. 



AT last the clouds were scattered, and the barometer, 

 the Cassandra-barometer as well, indicated " set fair." 

 Again they put to, started, and arrived at Touques, 

 this time without any noteworthy incident. 



The keeper, with a very short clay pipe between 

 his teeth, was quietly taking his ease on a bench 

 outside the door, when the rumbling of the vehicle 

 roused him from his quiescence. 



He rose, laid down the pipe on his seat, advanced 

 in military style, and in a superb bass voice saluted 

 with the words 



" Good day, Major ! " 



Uncle Bob certainly had never been major ; but no 

 doubt, in the opinion of the ex-gendarme, the rosette 

 of the legion of honour in his buttonhole was a 

 sufficient justification for the nattering title, which 



