THE HERO ENTERS SUDDENLY 



well as a very respectable little tail, put in, 

 or put out, an appearance. His breast was 

 now all speckled, and I suppose his general 

 costume corresponded to that of a little lad 

 who has been promoted to knickerbockers. 



His wings by this time had reached such 

 proportions that he could fly to the top of 

 a small tree. I would gladly have given 

 him his liberty if he would have accepted it, 

 but he always seemed disinclined to remain 

 away from me, and would come hurrying 

 back after a short investigation of the tree 

 or any other object to which he had flown. 



One afternoon, when he seemed particu- 

 larly anxious to go on a voyage of discov- 

 ery, he sighted in a neighbor's yard some- 

 thing which appeared to possess unusual in- 

 terest. He flew away and, to my dismay, 

 alighted beside a cat! 



Whether the remarkable sight of a bird 

 voluntarily putting himself in the way of 

 45 



