Atalapha, a Winged Brownie 
with a common purpose, so when the great spiral 
flock had soared so high that it was like smoke 
reflected in the river far below, its leader wheeled 
in a final wheel on the air current that suited him 
best, all followed, and their journey was begun. A 
troop of Swallows came fleet-winged from the north, 
and so the two swarms went together. 
It seems impossible for two swift creatures not 
actually companions or mates to travel the same 
road long without a race. 
At first each Bat that happened to be near a 
Swallow took care not to be left behind. But the 
interest grew, and not half the first little valley 
was crossed before the rivalry between chance 
Swallow and chance Bat had grown till the whole 
Swallow army was racing the whole army of Bats, 
and Atalapha was matched with a splendid fellow 
in steely blue, whose wings went whistling in the 
wind. 
Away they sped, keeping the same air level and 
straggling out as the different individuals showed 
their different powers. Who that knows the merry, 
glancing Swallow can doubt that it must win? 
Who that has watched the Northern Bat could 
ever have a question? Yet the race was nearly 
even. There were Bats that could not hold their 
own with certain Swallows, and there were Swal- 
196 
