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times before； but you I have seen very seldom of late。 Somehow； since I
returned this time； you seem to keep me at a distance。 You no longer
confide to me your great plans for the abolishment of war； and the
improvement of mankind generally。 Why don't you tell me whether you
have as yet succeeded in convincing the peasants that cleanliness is a
cardinal virtue； that hawthorn hedges are more picturesque than rail fences；
and that salt meat is a very indigestible article？〃
〃You know the fate of my reforms； from long experience；〃 she
answered； with the same sad； sweet smile。 〃I am afraid there must be
some thing radically wrong about my methods； and； moreover； I know that
your aspirations and mine are no longer the same； if they ever have been；
and I am not ungenerous enough to force you to feign an interest which
you do not feel。〃
〃Yes； I know you think me flippant and boyish；〃 retorted he； with
sudden energy； and tossing a stone down into the gulf below。 〃But； by
the way； my friend Strand； if he ever comes； would be just the man for you。
He has quite as many hobbies as you have； and； what is more； he has a
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profound respect for hobbies in general； and is universally charitable
toward those of others。〃
〃Your friend is a great man；〃 said the girl； earnestly。 〃I have read his
book on ‘The Wading Birds of the Norwegian Highlands；' and none but a
great man could have written it。〃
〃He is an odd stick； but； for all that； a capital fellow； and I have no
doubt you would get on admirably with him。〃
At this moment the conversation was interrupted by the appearance of
the pastor's man； Hans； who came to tell the 〃young miss〃 that there was a
big tramp hovering about the barns in the 〃out…fields；〃 where he had been
sleeping during the last three nights。 He was a dangerous character； Hans
thought； at least judging from his looks； and it was hardly safe for the
young miss to be roaming about the fields at night as long as he was in the
neighborhood。
〃Why don't you speak to the pastor； and have him arrested？〃 said
Arnfinn； impatient of Hans's long…winded recital。
〃No； no； say nothing to father；〃 demanded Augusta； eagerly。 〃Why
should you arrest a poor man as long as he does nothing worse than sleep
in the barns in the out…fields？〃
〃As you say； miss；〃 retorted Hans； and departed。
The moon came up pale and mist…like over the eastern mountain ridges；
struggled for a few brief moments feebly with the sunlight； and then
vanished。
〃It is strange；〃 said Arnfinn； 〃how everything reminds me of Strand to…
night。 What gloriously absurd apostrophes to the moon he could make！
I have not told you； cousin； of a very singular gift which he possesses。
He can attract all kinds of birds and wild animals to himself； he can
imitate their voices； and they flock around him； as if he were one of them；
without fear of harm。〃
〃How delightful；〃 cried Augusta； with sudden animation。 〃What a
glorious man your friend must be！〃
〃Because the snipes and the wild ducks like him？ You seem to have
greater confidence in their judgment than in mine。〃
〃Of course I haveat least as long as you persist in joking。 But；
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jesting aside； what a wondrously beautiful life he must lead whom Nature
takes thus into her confidence； who has； as it were； an inner and subtler
sense； corresponding to each grosser and external one； who is keen…
sighted enough to read the character of every individual beast； and has
ears sensitive to the full pathos of joy or sorrow in the song of the birds
that inhabit our woodlands。〃
〃Whether he has any such second set of senses as you speak of； I don't
know； but there can be no doubt that his familiarity； not to say intimacy；
with birds and beasts gives him a great advantage as a naturalist。 I
suppose you know that his little book has been translated into French； and
rewarded with the gold medal of the Academy。〃
〃Hush！ What is that？〃 Augusta sprang up； and held her hand to her
ear。
〃Some love…lorn mountain…cock playing yonder in the pine copse；〃
suggested Arnfinn； amused at his cousin's eagerness。
〃You silly boy！ Don't you know the mountain… cock never plays
except at sunrise？〃
〃He would have a sorry time of it now； then； when there IS no
sunrise。〃
〃And so he has； he does not play except in early spring。〃
The noise； at first faint； now grew louder。 It began with a series of
mellow； plaintive clucks that followed thickly one upon another； like
smooth pearls of sound that rolled through the throat in a continuous
current； then came a few sharp notes as of a large bird that snaps his bill；
then a long； half…melodious rumbling； intermingled with cacklings and
snaps； and at last； a sort of diminuendo movement of the same round；
pearly clucks。 There was a whizzing of wing…beats in the air； two large
birds swept over their heads and struck down into the copse whence the
sound had issued。
〃This is indeed a most singular thing；〃 said Augusta； under her breath；
and with wide…eyed wonder。 〃Let us go nearer； and see what it can be。〃
〃I am sure I can go if you can；〃 responded Arnfinn； not any too eagerly。
〃Give me your hand； and we can climb the better。〃
As they approached the pine copse； which
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projected like a promontory from the line of the denser forest； the
noise ceased； and only the plaintive whistling of a mountain…hen； calling
her scattered young together； and now and then the shrill response of a
snipe to the cry of its lonely mate； fell upon the summer night； not as an
interruption； but as an outgrowth of the very silence。 Augusta stole with
soundless tread through the transparent gloom which lingered under those
huge black crowns； and Arnfinn followed impatiently after。 Suddenly
she motioned to him to stand still； and herself bent forward in an attitude
of surprise and eager observation。 On the ground； some fifty steps from
where she was stationed； she saw a man stretched out full length； with a
knapsack under his head； and surrounded by a flock of downy； half…grown
birds； which responded with a low； anxious piping to his alluring cluck；
then scattered with sudden alarm； only to return again in the same curious；
cautious fashion as before。 Now and then there was a great flapping of
wings in the trees overhead； and a heavy brown and black speckled
mountain…hen alighted close to the man's head； stretched out her neck
toward him； cocked her head； called her scattered brood together； and
departed with slow and deliberate wing…beats。
Again there was a frightened flutter over… head； a shrill anxious whistle
rose in the air； and all was silence。 Augusta had stepped on a dry branch…
…it had broken under her weight hence the sudden confusion and flight。
The unknown man had sprung up； and his eye； after a moment's search；
had found the dark； beautiful face peering forth behind the red fir…trunk。
He did not speak or salute her； he greeted her with silent joy； as one greets
a wondrous vision which is too frail and bright for consciousness to grasp；
which is lost the very instant one is conscious of seeing。 But； while to
the girl the sight； as it were； hung trembling in the range of mere physical
perception； while its suddenness held it aloof from moral reflection； there
came a great shout from behind； and Arnfinn； whom in her surprise she
had quite forgotten； came bounding forward； grasping the stranger by the
hand with much vigor； laughing heartily； and pouring forth a confused
stream of delighted i