A STIFF BREEZE. 169 



insisted upon my consulting my watch) , within two 

 of the appointed time, one of those huge insects 

 emerged from the shell, and stood before us in all 

 the beauty of his variegated colors. 



He looked about him for a moment, gave his nose 

 a rub first with one foot, then with another, stroked 

 his wings with a couple more as if to satisfy himself 

 that he was himself, and, before I was well over my 

 amazement, spread his wings, and sailed off into the 

 air as if he had been up to that sort of thing for a 

 very much longer life than he could claim. 



No babyhood there, except what was passed in his 

 darkened cell, no creeping before he could walk, 

 no fluttering of the wings, but with the strength of 

 full growth to which he seemed at once to have 

 arrived he was ready to take his part in the battle 

 of life. 



" Joseph, you have proved yourself a true proph- 

 et for once, now see if you can find some salmon." 



But Joe's eyes are now scanning the heavens, 

 over which a few white clouds were rapidly passing, 

 and he looks a little anxious. 



" We're going to have a thunder-shower, and a 

 heavy blow, Mr. Stevens ; and I'm afraid Mrs. 



S will have a hard time with those tents on the 



hill." 



" Nonsense, Joe : I don't see any signs of a 

 storm." 



