204 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



But, gratified as I was with this stir of animated life 

 that my seductive call had evoked, I still awaited 

 anxiously the appearance of that rara avis of these 

 solitudes. Soon I heard a low call-note, such as I 

 had heard that bird give utterance to, and imitating it 

 closely as possible, I was gratified to hear it repeated 

 nearer at hand, and then caught a glimpse of a dusky 

 body flitting on rapid wing through the farther shades. 

 Its flight was very rapid and noiseless. It suddenly 

 came into view a good gun-shot ofF, evidently excited, 

 twitching its tail, jerking its wings, and uttering a 

 low whistle. In a thought it saw me, just as I caught 

 a snap-shot as it darted through the closely-woven 

 branches. Through the thin veil of smoke I caught 

 sight of a few floating feathers, and hurried forward 

 without reloading, breaking my way through matted 

 masses of ferns, leaping gullies, and swinging myself 

 finally beneath the tree upon which he had for a 

 moment rested. There was nothing in sight. Dis- 

 appointed, I yet trusted those floating feathers had 

 not misled me, and renewed the search, carefully 

 displacing the ferns and fallen branches one by one. 

 It was only upon searching lower down, where a 

 steep incline had given it impetus, that I found it, 

 lodged in a wild pine on the verge of a ravine. 



Exultant was I then, as that soft-plumaged bird lay 

 in view before me ; forgotten was the toil and previous 

 exertion, forgotten the rain and discomfort of the 

 night. I had triumphed over all obstacles in my path, 

 and was about to hold in my hand the first soufridre- 

 bird known to have been shot within the memory of 

 any one now living. In my anxiety, in my headlong 



