MY FIRST WATER-OUZELS 



that it was. " It is a pretty place," the stranger 

 said ; "I've just been up to the head of it." It 

 was well he could not read my feelings at that 

 moment. I have seldom hated a man so cordially. 

 " All this trouble for nothing ! " I thought, and 

 my spirits dropped to zero in no time. 



Nevertheless, having got rid of my questioner 

 as quickly as the briefest touch of politeness 

 would permit, I followed the trail up to the falls. 

 No ouzel, of course. I waited and waited, and at 

 last gave over the search, comforting myself as 

 best I could with the thought that possibly I 

 might even yet have sight of a condor. No 

 loafer of a tourist could have frightened him 

 away. I loitered and looked, now standing, now 

 strolling, now seated at my luncheon ; but con- 

 dors were as scarce as water-ouzels, and by and 

 by I started homeward. That plague of an over- 

 punctual man, who had no business in the canon 

 beyond an idle curiosity, had ruined my day. 



But then, at the last minute, some influence 

 brought me to a better mind. " I '11 give myself 

 one more chance," I said; "probably I shall 

 never be here again." And with that I took off 

 my coat, and trudged once more up the trail. It 

 was the old story till I came within sight of the 

 falls. Then the now familiar notes were sounded, 

 and in a moment my glass was on the birds. 

 109 



