Birds by the Wayside 167 



reached and we could view with binoculars the country for 

 several miles in the direction of Platsea. It looked cold, lone- 

 some, uninhabited. When returning-, we sought the lee of a 

 steep hillside and sat down to eat the luncheon put up for 

 ■usi by the hotel in Athens. (This was one advantage of trav- 

 eling with a conducted party. A want needed but mere men- 

 tion and it was promptly met.) While we were eating, a 

 goatherder with his flock came within ear-shot. As we arose 

 from our meal I announced my intention of looking up the 

 birds whose chirping had been heard. The wind had been 

 making free with any loose articles of clothing, and soon 

 Miss Smith was exclaiming: "Where is my scarf?" and 

 "Thank you," as the g^oatherder pointed up the hill to it. As 

 we climbed toward it she whispered : 'T am pretty certain 

 the goatherder said 'up there' when I asked about my scarf, 

 and 'you are welcome' when I thanked him." When I re- 

 turned from scouting after the birds (which were Chaffinches) 

 I found her in animated conversation with two Greeks. The 

 goatherder had worked in Kansas City and Seattle, and was 

 doing any odd job he could find until he could return to 

 America. He and his companion were but two of the man}/ 

 thousands who had been called home by the recent Balkan 

 War. Soon after parting from them we met a man whose 

 cheery greeting was, "How do you do?" and somewhat later, 

 while I was giving lengthy attention to birds about the Prank- 

 ish tower, a passing Greek inquired in the clearest accents 

 of America, "Is there anything I can do for you?" Verily 

 English-speaking Greeks seemed to be springing up on all 

 sides, as if from the .ground, like the mythical Thebans of 

 yore. And the letter of the Athenian guide appeared un- 

 necessary. 



The Greeks everywhere appeared fond of America. On a 

 steamer that was taking me to India I sat at table next to a 

 learned gentleman and his bride, whose nationality was puz- 

 zling iov a few days. He spoke seven or eight languages, 

 but conversed mostly in French with the Belgian father and 

 son who sat across the table from him. After learning- that 



