238 VIRGINIA 



would be better still. One thing I was sure 

 of, — Natural Bridge was not to be left out 

 of the warbler migration ; and one thing I 

 forgot entirely, — that I had planned to 

 leave it by the noonday train. 



My useless chase over the broad hilltop 

 had brought me to the side opposite the one 

 by which I had ascended, and to save time, 

 as I persuaded myself, I plunged down, as 

 best I could, without a trail, — a piece of 

 expensive economy, almost of course. In 

 the first place, this haphazardous descent 

 took me longer than it would have done to 

 retrace my steps ; and in the second place, I 

 was compelled for much of the distance to 

 force my way through troublesome under- 

 brush, in doing which I made of necessity 

 — being a white man — no little noise, and 

 so was the less likely to hear the note of any 

 small bird, or to come close upon him with- 

 out putting him to flight. In general, let 

 the bird-gazer keep to the path, except in 

 open woods, or as some specific errand may 

 lead him away from it. In one way and 

 another, nevertheless, I got down at last, 

 and after beating over a piece of pine wood, 

 with little or no result, I crossed a field and 



