Turkey with Thanksgiving 339 



and return when all became still. They had cer- 

 tainly been disturbed in this fashion more than once 

 before. 



These reflections were rather comforting, and I 

 resolved to just lie low where I was and let the 

 train thunder above my head. I was perfectly safe 

 and could get my five birds just as well as not when 

 they came back. I took a peep eastward, and there, 

 sure enough, was my train coming along at a great 

 rate. Looking again in the direction of the turkeys, 

 I saw the last two or three trot into cover. They 

 undoubtedly were not seriously alarmed and would 

 resume feeding in half an hour. 



There I lay, close as possible, and in a moment 

 the train thundered overhead. Though I knew I 

 was perfectly secure, I fairly shuddered as the first 

 couple of pairs of wheels passed so close to my head. 

 Heavens ! what a jar and row it made ! Would it 

 never draw its frightful length across that culvert ? 

 At last, when I was almost deafened, a blessed pause 

 in the uproar brought relief. A hollow " plunk- 

 plunk" of the last pair of wheels announced the 

 complete passage of the conductor's red van, and I 

 made a move to rise. 



There was a faint, squeaking, grinding noise, a 

 squirt of ice-cold water, then a frightful crash and 

 splash, and I gave an involuntary imitation of a 

 young man falling through a glass skylight and 

 fetching up in a well. The vibration of the train 

 had loosened the ice from the walls of the culvert, 

 and the whole business broke into fragments, and I 

 was in it ! 



I didn't wait to touch bottom, but pawed and 



