Robert IVMe, jr. 311 



thing drifting in the air, and realizing that there 

 was no secure cover nearer than the corn, she fairly 

 sprinted for that shelter. As she sped her terror in- 

 creased till she could wait no longer, and with a 

 warning cry she took wing. The others at once 

 sprang into the air and darted after her. Their 

 rising was almost noiseless in marked contrast with 

 the sounding whir of a flush before a man or dog. 

 But this time they had a running start and were not 

 suddenly bounced from a crouching attitude. 



Straight before them lay the corn, and they whizzed 

 toward it in straggling order. Fast as she was going, 

 Mother White saw the wheeling thing she had pre- 

 viously marked suddenly flash forward at marvellous 

 speed. Sorely frightened though she was, her 

 mother-love prompted a sharp cry of warning. Those 

 nearest heard and understood, and instead of sailing 

 for the last few yards, they buzzed madly until they 

 struck the dense growth and plunged through it like 

 so many hurled stones. All but one. A drift of 

 floating feathers, a broad-winged, gray form that 

 flapped away in burdened flight, proved that Accipi- 

 ter velox was well named, and had taken the toll 

 which folk of the cover must pay when they cross 

 their Bridge of Sighs the broad open. 



Because there is none of that which we call lasting 

 grief among the Whites, they speedily forgot their 

 troubles. In the corn they were safe, and for weeks 

 things were delightfully pleasant. Robert and his 

 brothers waxed stout and strong, as did their sisters. 

 The distinguishing marks, the white throats of the 

 one and the soft buff of the other, were alike perfect, 

 and the lot thought nothing of long tramps through 



