he evening after our humiliation--which we lost sight of in our joy--we
returned to the charmed spot, parted again the sweet grass curtains and
gazed down at the baby bobolinks, while the parents perched on two trees
as before and paid not the smallest attention to us.

We passed on down the road to the gate where we could look into a
neighboring pasture and watch for a pair of red-headed woodpeckers who
lived in that pleasant place, and catch the reflection of the sunset in
the northern sky. While we lingered there, I looked with my glass back
at the bobolinks, and chanced to see Bobby himself in the act of diving
into the grass. When he came out he seemed to notice me, and instantly
began trying to mislead me.

He came up boldly, flew to another spot where a weed lifted its head
above the green, and dropped into the grass exactly as though he was
going to the nest; then he rose again, repeated his tactics, pausing
every time he came out and calling, as if to say, "This is my home; if
you're looking for a nest, here it is!" His air was so business-like
that it would naturally deceive one not possessed of our precious
secret, the real spot where his three babies were cradled, and one might
easily be led all over the meadow by the wily fellow.

For six successive days we paid our short visits, and found the
nestlings safe. They did not seem to mature very fast, though they came
to look up at us, and open their mouths for food. But on the seventh day
there was a change in Master Robert's behavior. On the afternoon of this
day, wishing to observe their habits more closely, I found a seat under
a tree at some distance, not near enough, as I thought, to disturb them.

I did disturb them sorely, however, as instantly appeared. The calmness
they had shown during all the days we had been looking at the nest was
gone, and they began to scold at once. The head of the family berated me
from the top of a grass-stem, and then flew to a tall old stump, and put
me under the closest surveillance, constantly uttering a queer call like
"Chack-que-dle-la," jerking wings and tail, and in every way showing
that he considered me intrusive and altogether too much interested in
his family affairs. I admitted the charge, I could not deny it; but I
did not retire.

At last he apparently determined to insist upon my going, for he
started from his high perch directly toward me. Swiftly and with all his
force he flew, and about twenty feet from