TWO BIRDS'-NESTS 



loaded beak, and in a moment reappear. He ran 

 swiftly along the dry pebbles a few yards, and then 

 took to wing, and joined in the cry against me. In 

 a few moments he disappeared, presumably in quest 

 of more food. 



The mother, after many feints and passes and 

 false moves, half -fearful of her own rashness, darted 

 into the little cavern also. She soon shot out from 

 it on nimble foot, as had her mate, tl^ took to 

 wing, and to fresh peering and abuse of the strange 

 object on the bank. - 



The male was soon on the scene again, and after a 

 little flourishing, entered the shadow of the cavern 

 as before. Pausing a moment, the female did the 

 same. 



Evidently their suspicions were beginning to be 

 lulled. They had seen fishermen many, a few every 

 day for wrecks, and had grown used to them ; these 

 had gone on about their business ; but this one 

 that tarried and seemed bent on finding out other 

 people's business, — here was cause for alarm! 



In less than half an hour I felt sure I had the 

 birds' secret, — I had seen in the recesses of the 

 cavern the exact spot where they seemed to pause 

 a moment and then turn back. So I approached 

 the spot confidently ; I got down on my knees and 

 charged my eyes to find the nest. 



I am surprised that they seem baffled. At the 

 particular niche or shelf in the mass of roots they 



195 



