r before he re-appeared, and as he came
nearer I saw something in his beak. It was a bunch of grapes. He flew
toward me. I held out my hand to receive him, and with a heart full of
thankfulness I took the precious fruit from his beak.

"Thank you, thank you, Pippity!" I said. But Pippity didn't wait for
such little expressions of civility. Immediately, he flew away again,
and soon returned with other fruits, and nuts of various kinds; and, as
he could bring but little at a time, of course I could eat but little
at a time, which was a happy circumstance, for that is just the way a
starving man should eat.

In about four or five hours I told Pippity I had had enough.

"And now, Pippity," said I, "tell me,--how long have I been away?"

He promptly answered, "Three days!"

"Are you sure?"

"Three days--one, two, three."

I was almost sure he was right. But how the bird had found me I could
not make out. I questioned him in many ways, but could get no
satisfactory answer. By my not returning the day I went down into the
hole, and not the next, no doubt my friends began to be alarmed for my
safety, and set to work to find me, if possible. What Grilly did in the
matter I could not conjecture; but Pippity, being able to fly, probably
made excursions round the mountain, thinking that I might possibly come
out at some place, and hoping thus to be able to find me and come to my
relief.

During the afternoon, Pippity made a number of trips down into the
fertile plain, every time bringing back something good to eat, whilst I
rested quietly, amusing myself with looking at the pleasant scenery
that everywhere surrounded me, talking with Pippity whenever he was
present, and sometimes sleeping pleasantly.

A short time before sunset, Pippity took his last flight down, and, not
long after the sun had disappeared, I saw him returning in the
beautiful twilight. Again he brought me fruit.

"Go down to Grilly now," I said; "I will stay up here until morning,
and then you come to me again."

But Pippity didn't want to leave; and I told him that as he was so
desirous of keeping me company, he might remain with me through the
night.

The next morning, at the first glimmering of dawn, I awoke, feeling
well, hearty and cheerful. Pippity was off immediately to bring me
breakfast, and about ten o'clock we set out in high spirits to make
further ascent of this singular peak. All went well for about an hour,
when, Pippity being absent