200 



In Quest of 



4-- 



I drew near quietly and sat down on the 

 shore, while Waptonk swung easily back and 

 ^.^f forth on a short beat in front of me. As the 



f^ rVafJiUf/li m i nu tes passed and I made no hostile sound 

 niV^VJllI Qr movement, the short patrol increased its 

 swing till it covered an irregular half circle 

 whose center was a point on the farther shore ; 

 and I knew then where I should find his nest 

 and gray mate. Presently he began to talk, 

 — a curious low gabble. Out of the grass 

 and moss on the point rose a head and long 

 dark neck to look at me steadily. Near it 

 were low cheepings and whistlings, where 

 the goslings had been hiding in silence till 

 the danger passed by. 



I rose at this, having found his secret, and 

 made my way round the pond, with immense 

 caution because of the quaking bogs and bot- 

 tomless black mud that lurked under my feet 

 at every step. Waptonk stopped his patrol to 

 watch me a moment, then followed closely, 

 keeping just abreast of me as I made my slow 

 way along the treacherous shore. When I 

 doubled the end of the little pond and drew 

 near to where his nestlings were hidden, 



