_would_ wave backwards and forwards, although he tried to keep them
still. He was so nearly the color of the green of the tree-top that he
trusted Mr. Nighthawk wouldn't be able to spy him.

But he was soon disappointed. For Mr. Nighthawk suddenly cried, "Ha!"
and alighted on a neighboring limb.

"There you are!" he said. "You needn't think I don't see you!"

"Why, good evening!" Kiddie Katydid answered, since he was
discovered--and there was no use denying it. "It's a great
surprise--meeting you so unexpectedly. If you'd only sent word that you
were coming I'd have made different arrangements."

"I've no doubt you would have!" Mr. Nighthawk sneered. "But I like to
take people unawares.... I've heard about you," he added. "They say that
you're a great jumper--the spriest jumper in all Pleasant Valley."

"Well, I can jump fairly well," Kiddie Katydid admitted. "But I don't
pride myself on my jumping. It's something that has always run in my
family, you know. All of us Katydids can leap quite a distance without
any trouble."

"So I understand!" Mr. Nighthawk replied. "And I'll tell you some news
that ought to please you: I've come here to-night for the special
purpose of seeing you jump!"

Kiddie Katydid almost jumped out of his skin when he heard what Mr.
Nighthawk said. And it wouldn't have been anything remarkable for him
if he had. He had already squirmed out of his skin six times that
summer--though not from fear, of course. Casting his skin was almost a
habit with Kiddie. All his family were like that.

Though he was not nearly so old as Mr. Nighthawk, Kiddie Katydid had
learned a thing or two during his brief lifetime. And though he would
have liked very much to jump--and jump out of Mr. Nighthawk's sight,
too--he had no wish to hide himself _inside_ that feathered scoundrel.
So he clung all the tighter to his perch and replied that he didn't
believe he cared to do any jumping that night.

Now, Mr. Nighthawk had a certain odd trick of talking through his nose.
Whether that was because the late hours he kept, even on dark nights,
gave him a cold in his head, nobody seemed to know. Anyhow, he began
teasing Kiddie Katydid to jump for him--and he talked through his nose
more than ever. Yes! although Mr. Nighthawk tried his best to speak
pleasantly, he only succeeded in making Kiddie Katydid want to laugh at
him, for all Kiddie was so uneasy.

IV

A WHINING CALLER

"I certainly hope you aren't g