Pigskins and Dowitchers 247 



marsh mallard. Each was composed of a single feather whose 

 lower third rested on the water and whose upper part curled 

 upward to make as proud a sail as might have been seen on 

 a Spanish caravel. A hundred, possibly more, with wind in 

 their sails, bobbed and progressed in compact formation 

 until they passed the canoe and disappeared far down the 

 bay. The little people themselves could not have fashioned 

 a more lovely and impressive flotilla. 



The fortunes of the game moved back and forth with the 

 home team showing a slight superiority, but facing the ne- 

 cessity of again scoring if they were to avoid a tie. The po- 

 sition was desperate— were they to start the season with a 

 virtual defeat by the smallest college in the conference? The 

 answer came in the last two minutes of play. A touchdown 

 and a successful try-for-point put the visitors at the short end 

 of a 14-7 score and the half was soon over. From the stand- 

 point of the spectators it had all the elements of a perfect 

 contest. No novel of action could have been better con- 

 structed: great promise at the beginning, conflict, temporary 

 defeat, misfortune almost assured, then the sudden reversal, 

 and the happy ending. The crowd listened to the playing of 

 the alma mater and went out contented. 



The afternoon was over for them but not for me. I was 

 looking into the private chambers of my bird guests. I had 

 watched them feed and slumber. Now I saw them in all the 

 intimacy of their toilet preparation. Two of them had fin- 

 ished their bath, and while the third still slept they began 

 the exacting task of caring for their plumage. The process 

 spoke much for the advantages and economy of simplicity. 

 First came a series of shakings of the entire body until every 

 surplus drop of water was thrown off— an excellent substi- 

 tute for a large Turkish towel. A preliminary adjustment of 

 the feathers followed. Most important of all was the applica- 

 tion of a special kind of toilet and waterproofing oil long 

 known as a reliable preparation for imparting that sleek and 



