194 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



was not worth a thought ! The fight was the thing, 

 and she must listen in silence to the story of it she, 

 the last human listener he would ever have. 



Suddenly the torrent of speech is arrested ; the voice 

 of the blackbird " sweet and soft and peaceful," comes 

 to them out of the darkness. Hark ! he cries to her 

 before vanishing for ever from her sight, 



I hear the dusky ouzel send a joyous greeting to the faithful, 



My speech, my shape, are spectral hush, woman, do not speak to me ! 



