The National tribune., 1881-10-08


However, so far as it went. it answered GER
tain purpose.
Sauntering along under the trees, with his
eyes on the ground, was quiet lazy-looklng
boy. He had book under his arm and can III
his hand. He was a boy-naturalist, with only
one particular thought in his head, and that at
Just this particular moment was-specimens.
Suddenly, he pricked up his ears.
what queer note that was!" he said. y
don't know that note at all"
He listened attentiyely.
"Oueer." he said, every queer, not like any
note | ever heard before. | wish knew where
it came from"
Jack, as we can well imagine, required a GER
tain amount of rest after his effort; and it was
not possible for him 10 shout again for some
minutes.
Larry, the quiet boy, continued his leisurely
walk, stopping now and again to pick up speci-
men examine a leaf.
"Hollo! there it is again he exclaimed, as the
curious chipping sound reached him
What on earth is it? 1t must be bird.
What rery peculiar note!"
Larry's great ambition, and pretty large one
too, all things considered, was to find out new
bird, insect, or flower; in fact, it was perfect
mania with him.
When he heard this again, he took to his heels,
and ran with all his might in the direction of the
sound.
Now, we all know, or ought to know. that
sound travels with the wind and, as the wind
upon this particular occasion was bent upon
blowing from every quarter at one and the same
moment, the result of Jacks gigantic effort was
a little misleading.
Anybody but an enthusiast, like Larry, would
have given up the search; for before he had gone
ten yards, he had lost his cew, and forgotten, as
he turned his head, now this way, now that, from
what direction the sound really had come.
1t was some moments before he heard it for
the third time.
Let us return to our poor Jack.
Those wretched legs of his ached stupendousy:
his arms were in perfect twists of cramp; as for
his hands. they so tired of hanging uselessly
by his side that the fingers involuntarily scratched
and grated against the walls of his prison
Something very like despair was Juggling at
Jacks heart now. Let it be very clearly under
stood that despair is quite possible to courage
Gus heart Courage and despair may 90 hand in
hand, and believe they did with Jack.
He wouldn't give in till the last moment; but
then, the last moment appeared to him to have
come. He felt quite sick with dismay as he
realized that even his rOice-hs mighty voice
could not help him.
What" he said to himself, after the third
effort what is the use of shouting, when, by the
time my voice reaches the top. it is as weak as a
girls?
Being in this way a philosopher he reflected
again, and this time concluded that, as shouting
was really the only course open to him, he had
better husband his strength and make it as
effectual as possible. He decided to count
thousand to himself before he called again.
But it is good deal easier to decide than to
act up to the decision. BY the time he reached
three hundred, he felt that really he could bear
it no longer. He gathered his forces together and
shouted.
He waited until the last vibration Of the sound
had passed away, and then, after vainly expect
ing result, proceeded TO his counting again.
This time he fully determined to get up to six
hundred at least
Oddly enough, he couldn't. No. When he
reached three hundred, the memory of his last
shout came fresh upon him: he stopped, sum-
mOned his strength to his aid, and gave yell
which far outrivaled any of his former operations
in the same line
This time, as the last echo left the tree, his
heart stood still What was that? What in the
world was that? Not a voice, surely? No, not
a voice, but tap tap, tap.
Where did it come from? Excitement gave
Jack strength. He yelled again, prolonged
yell; and, as he did So every pulse in his body
beat so loudly that he could not trust his own
impressions.
at was something's" he thou hit Oh. oh, oh
if it were to hit him He must shout now. He
made one effort after another leaving no pause
between.
Again he heard the tap tsp, tap, this time
above his head. His eyes tu1Eed eagerly in the
direction from whence it came; he strained his
neck as far as possible, and in his eagerness
raised himself on tiptoe.
Now something happened which fairly took
his heart away, and nearly finished him off, and
very speedily sent him on to the soles of his
feet again. for it was no less than the pressure of
a boot upon his head.
ooh, l say, don't hit me-" said Jack. What
ever is 2"
The result of his speech was instantaneous
The boot was withdrawn; and a voice familiar
to, and alas! often despised by Jack, replied.
who is it?" cried Larry. Il was coming
down to see what all the noise was about"
''Don't come dOwn-dont come down, It's