220 FOOTING IT IN FRANCONIA 



The next day our course took us again 

 past his quarters, and he was still there, and 

 still singing. I knew he would be. He 

 could be depended on. He was doing ex- 

 actly as he had done two years before. You 

 had only to stand still in a certain place (I 

 could almost find it in the dark, I think), 

 and you would hear his voice. He was as 

 sure to be there as the trees. 



That afternoon some ladies wished to see 

 him, and my companion volunteered his es- 

 cort. Their experience was like our own; 

 or rather it was better than ours. The 

 warbler was not only at home, but behaved 

 like the most courteous of hosts; coming 

 into a peculiarly favorable light, upon an 

 uncommonly low perch, and showing himself 

 off to his visitors' perfect satisfaction. It 

 was bravely done. He knew what was due 

 to " the sex." 



On the morning of the 27th I took my 

 farewell of him. He had been there for at 

 least five days, and would doubtless stay for 

 the season. May joy stay with him. I think 

 I have not betrayed his whereabouts too 

 nearly. If I have, and harm comes of it, 



