ng and she forgot
all about the fishing and her resolve not to speak.

"Look!" she cried, pointing to a fallen tree-trunk which hung over the
water.

On a branch sat a bird. He was considerably larger than a robin.

[Illustration: "On a branch sat a bird. He was considerably larger
than a robin"]

On the top of his head was a tall crest, which reached to the nape of
his neck.

His back and the entire upper part of his body was blue. His wings and
short tail bore spots and bars of white.

The lower part of his body was white and across his breast ran two
bands of blue.

"His bill is longer than his head!" laughed Phyllis. "What a funny big
head and what funny little feet! Who is he, Jackie?"

"A kingfisher!" Jack replied.

"What is he doing?" asked Phyllis.

"Fishing," said Jack, shortly.

In a moment Jack spoke again.

"There must be fish here if Mr. Kingfisher is on the lookout. He is a
famous old fisherman. He could not live without fish to eat. Did you
notice the white spot above each eye?"

Encouraged by the sight of the other fisherman, Jack again cast his
line and waited for a bite.

Phyllis watched the bird. Suddenly it seemed to drop from the branch.
It dived into the water.

There was a great flutter and splash--a struggle. Then the bird in the
blue and white uniform perched again on the old branch.

The children watched eagerly.

In the bird's strong bill was a scaly, glittering fish. It wriggled
and flopped helplessly, but could not escape.

The bird held the fish firmly in its strong grasp, raised his head and
struck the fish three or four sharp knocks against the branch. Then
the fish wriggled no longer.

"He can never swallow that big fellow!" cried Jack, forgetting his own
fishing. "I have seen kingfishers swallow minnows alive and whole, but
that fish is too large for him to manage!"

The bird, however, seemed to think that he could "manage" it. He
started to swallow the fish. When it was half-way down his throat it
stuck.

With much sputtering and gagging the bird brought the fish up again.
But he must have his dinner, and not in the least discouraged, tried
again.

He gagged and writhed. The scales and fins stuck in his throat. Up
came the fish again.

Four--five times he struggled to swallow the fish. Five times he
failed to succeed. Five times the fish-scales glittered again in the
sunlight. Such strange wrigglings and twistings the bird made.

"