Honker and Dippy Arrive 



at this time of year, and so he sat listening and listen- 

 ing and wondering what he was listening for. Then, 

 late one afternoon, there came floating down to 

 him from high up in the sky, faintly at first but 

 growing louder, a sound unlike any Peter had heard 

 all the long summer through. The sound was a 

 voice. Rather it was many voices mingled 

 "Honk, honk, honk, k'honk, honk, honk, k'honk !" 

 Peter gave a little jump. 



"That's what I've been listening for !" he cried. 

 "Honker the Goose and his friends are coming. 

 Oh, I do hope they will stop where I can pay them 

 a call." 



He hopped out to the edge of the dear Old Briar- 

 patch that he might see better, and looked up in 

 the sky. High up, flying in the shape of a letter V, 

 he saw a flock of great birds flying steadily from 

 the direction of the Far North. By the sound of 

 their voices he knew that they had flown far that 

 day and were tired. One bird was in the lead and 

 this he knew to be his old friend, Honker. Straight 

 over his head they passed and as Peter listened to 

 their voices he felt within him the very spirit of the 

 Far North, that great, wild, lonely land which he 

 had never seen but of which he had so often heard. 



As Peter watched, Honker suddenly turned and 

 headed in the direction of the Big River. Then he 

 began to slant down, his flock following him. And 

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