104 Trails to Woods and Waters 



Suddenly, from their very midst, came a 

 clear shrill whistle, pure and sweet as the note 

 of a piccolo, " bob- white, bob- white, bob-bob- 

 white." 



" They are right here in the bush, Ben," 

 exclaimed the boy in an eager whisper, pull- 

 ing excitedly at his companion's sleeve. 



The old man chuckled and laughed softly. 

 " That was me," he whispered. " I had my 

 hand over my mouth so you could not tell 

 where the sound came from." Again he re- 

 peated the musical call and both waited and 

 listened. Then, faint and far across the pas- 

 ture land, like an echo, came the reply, " bob- 

 white, bob-white, bob-bob-white." 



"That's him," whispered Ben. "Now 

 keep perfectly still and you will hear some- 

 thing worth while." 



Presently the two watchers under the little 

 spruces heard the well-known whirr of short, 

 fast beating wings, and a second later Bob- 

 White himself plumped down under the cover 

 within two yards of them. He shook the wet 

 from his wings, preened his feathers for a 



