THE HERO ENTERS SUDDENLY 



One day when I was visiting the orchard 

 part of the grove I noticed that two cat- 

 birds followed me as I passed from tree to 

 tree. I naturally supposed that the falling 

 together of our routes was accidental, but 

 a repetition of the occurrence on the fol- 

 lowing day led me to conclude that they 

 had a nest in the neighborhood, and that 

 they resented my presence. 



A search among the branches failed to 

 reveal even the slightest semblance of a 

 bird-home, however. So when, on the 

 third day, reinforced by two wood-thrushes, 

 they again made quite a trip in my com- 

 pany, and, in answer to my outstretched 

 hand, came down to the very tips of the 

 branches, almost within reach in fact, I con- 

 cluded that the entire demonstration was a 

 mark of approval; something of the na- 

 ture of a certificate of good conduct; almost 

 as if they had written: 

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