n except length,
their bodies are mere imaginary points to hang feathers on. You don't know
little turkeys."

It might be said that, having undertaken to raise turkeys, we had to
expect them to act like turkeys. But there were other interruptions in our
evenings where our share of responsibility was not so plain. For example,
one wet evening in early June we had kindled a little fire and I had
brought the lamp forward. The pump was quiescent, the little turkeys were
all tucked up in the turkey equivalent for bed, the farm seemed to be
cuddling down into itself for the night. We sat for a moment luxuriously
regarding the flames, listening to the sighing of the wind, feeling the
sweet damp air as it blew in through the open windows. I was considering
which book it should be and at last rose to possess myself of two or
three.

"Sh--h--h!" said Jonathan, a warning finger raised.

I stood listening.

"I don't hear anything," I said.

"Sh--h!" he repeated. "There!"

This time, indeed, I heard faint bird-notes.

"Young robins!" He sprang up and made for the back door with long strides.

I peered out through the window of the orchard room, but saw only the
reflection of the firelight and the lamp. Suddenly I heard Jonathan
whistle and I ran to the back porch. Blackness pressed against my eyes.

"Where are you?" I called into it.

The whistle again, quite near me, apparently out of the air.

"Bring a lantern," came a whisper.

I got it and came back and down the steps to the path, holding up my light
and peering about in search of the voice.

"Where are you? I can't see you at all."

"Right here--look--here--up!" The voice was almost over my head.

I searched the dark masses of the tree--oh, yes! the lantern revealed the
heel of a shoe in a crotch, and above,--yes, undoubtedly, the rest of
Jonathan, stretched out along a limb.

"Oh! What are you doing up there?"

"Get me a long stick--hoe--clothes-pole--anything I can poke with. Quick! The
cat's up here. I can hear her, but I can't see her."

I found the rake and reached it up to him. From the dark beyond him came a
distressed mew.

"Now the lantern. Hang it on the teeth." He drew it up to him, then, rake
in one hand and lantern in the other, proceeded to squirm out along the
limb.

"Now I see her."

I saw her too--a huddle of yellow, crouched close.

"I'll have her in a minute. She'll either have to drop or be caught."

And in fact this distressing