1 6 More Tales of the Birds 



us try for the blue sky again, and look for the 

 sunrise as we sing ! " And higher they went, 

 and higher, but found no blue that day ; and 

 when the sun rose behind the clouds, it rose with 

 an angry yellow light, that gave no cheer to man 

 or beast. And what a sight it showed below 

 them ! All along the ridge for a mile and a half 

 lay prostrate forms, huddled together for warmth ; 

 picketed horses stood asleep with drooping 

 heads ; cannon and waggons covered the ground 

 towards the forest. And all that host lay silent, 

 as if dead. And over there, on the opposite 

 height, lay another vast and dark crowd of human 

 beings. What would happen when they all 

 woke up? 



The Larks spent some time, as was their wont, 

 bathing themselves in the fresher air above, and 

 then descended slowly to find insects for the 

 new-born little one. Slowly for a weight lay 

 on the hearts of both ; there was peril, they knew, 

 though neither of them would own it. As they 

 approached the earth, they saw a figure kneeling 

 against the bank, and prying into the ground just 

 where lay the home of all their fond desire. 



