Id Quest of 

 "yfJVaptonk 



„ at the head of the wedge, and instantly the 

 wings would cackle an answer and swing into 

 better line ; but the cry had lost much of its 

 joy and utter freedom, as the flight had lost 



{/ 4j its power and swift certainty. 



^ 



I did not know then, in the autumn days, 

 that these were mostly young birds which had 

 never before followed the long trail ; that at 

 the head of every wedge was one of the old 

 birds, pointing out the headlands by which 

 they shaped their course ; that the flight was 

 less certain because the goslings had not yet 

 reached their full power and must rest by 

 the way ; and that the cry was less stirring 

 because spring no longer called them away 

 by its throbbing love life and by the sweet 

 home memories of quiet nesting places in 

 the far Northland. Rather were they driven 

 away from the things they loved ; and now 

 the security of the great, free, lonely wilder- 

 ness must give place to constant watchful- 

 ness in a hostile land, where danger lurked 

 and roared out upon them from every point 

 and bay and feeding-ground. No wonder the 

 flight wavered ; no wonder the young voices 



