254 BESIDE THE GREAT SALT LAKE. 



tiles, he could not tell, until it was stretched out 

 in death, which of the two it was. This tragedy 

 spoiled the old orchard for me, and never again 

 did I enter its gates. 



Down the wild rose path I took my way the 

 next morning. Silently and quickly I gained 

 my seat of yesterday, hoping to surprise the chat 

 family. No doubt my hope was vain ; noiseless, 

 indeed, and deft of movement must be the hu- 

 man being who could come upon this alert bird 

 unawares. He greeted me with a new note, a 

 single clear call, like " ho ! " Then he proceeded 

 to study me, coming cautiously nearer and nearer, 

 as I could see out of the corner of my eye, while 

 pretending to be closely occupied with my note- 

 book. His loud notes had ceased, but it is not 

 in chat nature to be utterly silent ; many low 

 sounds dropped from his beak as he approached. 

 Sometimes it was a squawk, a gentle imitation 

 of that which rang through the air from the 

 mouth of his spouse ; again it was a hoarse sort 

 of mewing, followed by various indescribable 

 sounds in the same undertone ; and then he 

 would suddenly take himself in hand, and be 

 perfectly silent for half a minute. 



After a little, madam took up the matter, ut- 

 tering her angry squawk, and breaking upon 

 my silence almost like a pistol shot. At once I 

 forgot her mate, and though he retired to a little 



