2 IN THE DAYS OF AUDUBON 



the wide oak veranda. He was not old. Under the portico 

 there was a sign bearing the inscription " The Relay Inn." 



The queer-looking man laid down a huge nest on the 

 floor of the veranda very carefully. 



" Hey, you there, old fellow, don't you clutter up 'the 

 floor! We are going to entertain a party of men from 

 the court to-night — jurymen — and we want things about 

 here to look trim and clean. What are you going to do 

 with that bird's cord-wood, anyway? " 



" My friend, that is a nest of the white mountain 

 eagle." 



The stranger seemed to regard it as a treasure. 



" So I see. But what of it? It is simply a pile of sticks. 

 Why do you bring them here? " 



" My friend, I beg your pardon, but that nest is very 

 rare. I climbed two days to secure it, and tore my flesh — 

 see, see — so as to bring it down the cliffs unbroken. I 

 would not displace a single stick, not for a doubloon. 

 There it is, just as I found it. My arms ache carrying 

 it in such an exact way. Show me to a room." 



" Show you to the wood-house ! You do not expect to 

 take that bundle of sticks and a lot of other trumpery to 

 a regular room in the inn? " 



" Why, my young man, of course I do. Are you not 

 a little rude to a stranger who comes to you for hospi- 

 tality? " 



" Old man, you are daft." 



