MARTIN AND HIS BIRD FRIENDS 45 



There was also a large martin colony here in two 

 fine houses, wonderfully placed on the high bank 

 of the great river, and commanding a view in all 

 directions. The members of this colony had arrived 

 the day before and were therefore resting from their 

 long journey. As our party of tourists came in sight, 

 a scout was sent to meet them, asking them to stop 

 and rest a while. This they did and exchanged 

 greetings and the experiences of the trip, but as they 

 were now within fifty miles of their destination they 

 all were anxious to be moving. 



After resting an hour, during which time they 

 thoroughly inspected the Fort Harrison Martin Club, 

 they thanked their hosts most profusely for inviting 

 them to stop and break the journey, then took a 

 northwesterly course, and just about mid-afternoon 

 came in sight of the big farm. It was easily located, 

 with its many white buildings and the big brick house 

 situated in a grove of giant trees, all adjoining a 

 white concrete pavement that had been constructed 

 through the country a few years before. 



As the pilot circled the buildings of the big farm, 

 giving his friends a first view of the place, he noted 

 that a new house had been built for his family dur- 

 ing the winter. This pleased him very much, for he 

 had been worrying during the entire journey lest he 



