176 



A FRIEND IN NFED. 



But Pongo and Diedrick hit it the fiVst time. Young as were the birds, one of 

 them showed signs of the picturesque plumes at the back of its head, and it was 

 this fact that revealed the secret. 



Having related his own experience, the Texan was prepared to listen to what 

 had befallen the others. 



