118 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



chances to be near, it occasionally happens that re- 

 sounding clarion calls answer each other from sky 

 to earth and earth to sky. That is the interchange 

 of greetings between wild and tame geese. The 

 wild ones invite the captives to come and join them 

 in their pilgrimage to the promised land of the 

 North. The proposal puts the poultry-yard all in 

 a turmoil, so compelling is the call of instinct. The 

 farm geese become excited, scream, beat their sides 

 with their large wings; but the plumpness of cap- 

 tivity prevents their flight. One less impeded takes 

 wing, rises in the air, and is gone." 



"To SpitzbergenT' asked Emile. 



"Yes, to Spitzbergen, if strength does not fail 

 it, but it is very doubtful whether it will be able to 

 follow its wild companions to the end. 



"The goose feeds chiefly on herbage. With its 

 wide beak furnished at the edges with little scales 

 resembling sharp teeth, it browses the turf very 

 much as does the sheep. A field of green wheat par- 

 ticularly delights it. If a rather large flock alights 

 there the harvest is seriously injured. During the 

 devastation sentries keep a look-out, some here, 

 others there, motionless, neck outstretched, eye and 

 ear on the alert. Let danger approach, and immedi- 

 ately the trumpet sounds. At the warning the flock 

 ceases grazing, runs with wings open to get a start, 

 then takes flight and mounts obliquely to heights 

 above the reach of a shot. The same precautions 

 are taken in the hours of repose ; furthermore, actu- 

 ated by an excess of prudence, they refuse to trust 



