FRIENDS IN FEATHERS 



whole-footed, as Geese," wondering in which class the bird can be 

 placed. I was all eagerness to see these birds, but hesitated, not 

 because of doubts that I would go and make studies of them 

 eventually, but because it required thinking as to how it could be 

 accomplished. The Limberlost, at that time, was my one spot 

 of forbidden territory. A rash promise had been made never to 

 go there, but this sounded too alluring. I immediately sought 

 the Deacon. 



"I want to take back my promise not to go to the Limberlost/' 

 I said. 



"Can't release you," he answered. 



We do not live long with people in this world until w r e discover 

 their weak spots. The Deacon's is relics, specimens and curios 

 first cousin to natural history. 



"What a pity!" I murmured meditatively. "This is the 

 only opportunity I ever have had to reproduce a white baby as 

 large as a Gosling, with a big speckled blue egg beside it, and of 

 course I'll never have another." 



"What's that!" cried the Deacon. 



"How do you expect me to tell what it is, if I must not go and 

 see?" I countered. 



"When did you want to go?" he questioned. 



I thought of the old adage about striking the hot iron and 

 answered promptly : "This minute ! " 



"But I can't go now," said the Deacon. 



"Then the blue egg will hatch, so I won't get a picture of it 

 beside the white baby. I am reliably informed that it has large 

 dark speckles on it the egg, not the baby. Mr. Bolds sent a 

 man to tell me." 



"Umph!" he muttered starting toward the stable. 



My soul was joyful as I went to pack my paraphernalia. 



This was the beginning of a series of swamp-studies that is, in 



