SCOTT THE FORESTER 337 



(all jump about noiselessly, clap their hands softly and swing 

 their arms signifying their willingness, save Bush-tit who looks 

 solemn and shakes his head.) 



CHIPMINK (continued) 

 Well, let's get busy — ^he might wake up. Nuthatch, you 

 bring the milkweed tassels. Vireo, you gather a sheaf of spider- 

 webs of the Black Widow and bind up his legs and arms. Lizard, 

 find some poppy petals with the dew still on them. I will make 

 the magic sleep potion out of the purple juice of this nightshade 

 and some blue elderberry wine (he gathers these berries as he 

 speaks slowly) mixed with the sap of the yerba manza. Hummer, 

 get me some yerba manza by the spring and a bit of resin from 

 the sugar pine. 



(while Hummer brings some yerba manza and a bit of resin. 

 Chipmunk is mixing the potion in an acorn cup of the Maul 

 oak. Bush-tit takes no part in the proceedings. Vireo comes 

 in with the spiderwebs and begins to bind up the Forester's limbs) 

 Nuthatch arrives with the milkweed seeds and toys with them, 

 blowing them away singing: 



Oh who will sail with me 

 Upon a golden sea, 

 A sailor brown as a pine-seed's wing 

 And every whit as free. 



Then brother let us go 

 While winds of summer blow 

 For soon will come the cruel Frost King 

 To lay our shelter low. 



And what shall be our stars 

 To guide our silver spars? 

 Oh we will sail till we meet the Spring 

 We roving milkweed tars! 



CHIPMUNK 

 I wonder why Lizard is so long— Oh here he is ! (Lizard comes 

 in breathlessly with the dewed petals.) 



LIZARD 

 I had a hard time— finding— the dewed petals— and I'm afraid— 

 the Guardian Spirit — spied me. 



