o suddenly ceased, and down they came, round 



_ _ _ and around in a beautiful spiral, as if sliding 



In QlIPS? Of ... ... & 



-^^Jy * - ' down on an invisible winding staircase. Fol- 



« J^o/JlU/£i\. } owm or th e big leader came the long, magnifi- 

 iftrJT//u cen |. ]- ]ie ^ ^yhich swung in a complete curve 

 ^v**,^^ above him and half around the circle again; 

 all with set wings and outstretched necks, 

 gliding, wheeling, curving steadily downward 

 in perfect order and perfect silence. 



It was marvelous, the grace, the precision, 

 the impressive silence of the stately proces- 

 sion down the spiral staircase of the winds, 

 and the boy forgot the hunter in his intense 

 wonder and admiration. One by one the 

 great birds dropped their black webbed feet 

 and slid gently along just over the surface 

 for a brief moment, and then dropped with 

 a quiet, restful splash into the water. An 

 instant later they had swung together and a 

 low, eager chatter began among them. 



Now Old Graylag alone had been unim- 

 pressed by the wonderful descent, for other 

 things were stirring wildly in her lonely 

 heart. All the while they were coming 

 down, so silent and stately, she kept up an 



