IN QUEST OF RAVENS 53 



popularity is, its manifestations were just 

 now a trouble. The ravens might fly over 

 at any moment, and it was important that 

 I should be undisturbed, — to say nothing 

 of my dinner. I remembered the saying of 

 Poor Richard, — " Love your neighbor, but 

 don't pull down your hedge ; " and at last, 

 seeing that something must be done, I rose, 

 moved a few rods, and then, dropping sud- 

 denly upon the grass, said, " Good-by." 

 The boys took the hint, and ten minutes 

 later I saw them beside the brook, trying 

 their luck with the fish. The quality of 

 selfishness had proved itself twice blest, as 

 happens oftener than we think, it may be, 

 in this " unintelligible world." 



This part of the story need not be pro- 

 longed. The reader has already foreseen 

 that my luncheon was finished without 

 interruption. No raven's wing darkened 

 the air. I lingered till the case began to 

 seem hopeless. Then I loitered as slowly 

 as possible up the valley, and at last took 

 the ascending road through the mountain 

 woods toward the log schoolhouse. By 

 this time there were signs of rain, but with 

 a three-hour jaunt before me it was useless 



