IN QUEST OF RAVENS 39 



Could he tell me how to get there ? Oh, yes ; 

 and he began. But I was soon quite lost. 

 He knew the way too well, and I gave over 

 trying to follow him, saying to myself that I 

 would procure directions, when the time 

 came, from some one in the village. The 

 man was very neighborly and kind, invited 

 me to get up behind him and ride, gave me 

 his name, answered all my questions, and 

 rode away. Here, then, were ravens with 

 something like certainty and well within 

 reach (" ra-vens," my new acquaintance had 

 been careful to say, with no slurring of the 



second vowel), and, Dr. to the contrary 



notwithstanding, I would yet see them. 



The next morning, with a luncheon in my 

 pocket and a minute itinerary in my note- 

 book, I set out for Turtlepond. Important 

 things must be attended to promptly. " You 

 will be lucky if you find it," said the man 

 who had laid out my route, by way of a god- 

 speed ; and I half believed him. He did not 

 add, what I knew was on his tongue, '' You 

 will be luckier still if you find a raven ; " as 

 to that, also, he was welcome to his opinion. 

 Ravens or no ravens, I meant to enjoy my- 

 self. What could a man want better than 



