nted all around in the grass, but
without success. You see, Mrs. Bobolink had been quite as clever in
fooling Peter as Bubbling Bob had been in fooling Jimmy Skunk.

CHAPTER XIV. Bob White and Carol the Meadow Lark.

"Bob--Bob White! Bob--Bob White! Bob--Bob White!" clear and sweet, that
call floated over to the dear Old Briar-patch until Peter could stand it
no longer. He felt that he just had to go over and pay an early morning
call on one of his very best friends, who at this season of the year
delights in whistling his own name--Bob White.

"I suppose," muttered Peter, "that Bob White has got a nest. I wish
he would show it to me. He's terribly secretive about it. Last year I
hunted for his nest until my feet were sore, but it wasn't the least bit
of use. Then one morning I met Mrs. Bob White with fifteen babies out
for a walk. How she could hide a nest with fifteen eggs in it is more
than I can understand."

Peter left the Old Briar-patch and started off over the Green Meadows
towards the Old Pasture. As he drew near the fence between the Green
Meadows and the Old Pasture he saw Bob White sitting on one of the
posts, whistling with all his might. On another post near him sat
another bird very near the size of Welcome Robin. He also was telling
all the world of his happiness. It was Carol the Meadow Lark.

Peter was so intent watching these two friends of his that he took no
heed to his footsteps. Suddenly there was a whirr from almost under
his very nose and he stopped short, so startled that he almost squealed
right out. In a second he recognized Mrs. Meadow Lark. He watched
her fly over to where Carol was singing. Her stout little wings moved
swiftly for a moment or two, then she sailed on without moving them at
all. Then they fluttered rapidly again until she was flying fast enough
to once more sail on them outstretched. The white outer feathers of her
tail showed clearly and reminded Peter of the tail of Sweetvoice the
Vesper Sparrow, only of course it was ever so much bigger.

Peter sat still until Mrs. Meadow Lark had alighted on the fence near
Carol. Then he prepared to hurry on, for he was anxious for a bit of
gossip with these good friends of his. But just before he did this he
just happened to glance down and there, almost at his very feet, he
caught sight of something that made him squeal right out. It was a nest
with four of the prettiest eggs Peter ever had seen. They were white
with brown sp