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It was while he was sunk in this state of melancholy； and some months
after Miss Kirkland had sailed to Egypt； that hope returned。
For a week…end he had invited Holden and Lowell； two former
classmates； and Nelson Mortimer and his bride。 They were all old
friends of their host and well acquainted with the cause of his
discouragement。 So they did not ask to be entertained； but； disregarding
him； amused themselves after their own fashion。 It was late Friday
afternoon。 The members of the house…party had just returned from a
tramp through the woods and had joined Ainsley on the terrace； where he
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stood watching the last rays of the sun leave the lake in darkness。 All
through the day there had been sharp splashes of rain with the clouds dull
and forbidding； but now the sun was sinking in a sky of crimson； and for
the morrow a faint moon held out a promise of fair weather。
Elsie Mortimer gave a sudden exclamation； and pointed to the east。
〃Look！〃 she said。
The men turned and followed the direction of her hand。 In the fading
light； against a background of sombre clouds that the sun could not reach；
they saw； moving slowly toward them and descending as they moved； six
great white birds。 When they were above the tops of the trees that edged
the lake； the birds halted and hovered uncertainly； their wings lifting and
falling； their bodies slanting and sweeping slowly； in short circles。
The suddenness of their approach； their presence so far inland；
something unfamiliar and foreign in the way they had winged their
progress； for a moment held the group upon the terrace silent。
〃They are gulls from the Sound；〃 said Lowell。
〃They are too large for gulls；〃 returned Mortimer。 〃They might be
wild geese； but；〃 he answered himself； in a puzzled voice； 〃it is too late；
and wild geese follow a leader。〃
As though they feared the birds might hear them and take alarm； the
men； unconsciously； had spoken in low tones。
〃They move as though they were very tired；〃 whispered Elsie
Mortimer。
〃I think；〃 said Ainsley； 〃they have lost their way。〃
But even as he spoke； the birds； as though they had reached their goal；
spread their wings to the full length and sank to the shallow water at the
farthest margin of the lake。
As they fell the sun struck full upon them； turning their great pinions
into flashing white and silver。
〃Oh！〃 cried the girl； 〃but they are beautiful！〃
Between the house and the lake there was a ridge of rock higher than
the head of a man； and to this Ainsley and his guests ran for cover。 On
hands and knees； like hunters stalking game； they scrambled up the face of
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the rock and peered cautiously into the pond。 Below them； less than one
hundred yards away； on a tiny promontory； the six white birds stood
motionless。 They showed no sign of fear。 They could not but know that
beyond the lonely circle of the pond were the haunts of men。 From the
farm came the tinkle of a cow…bell； the bark of a dog； and in the valley； six
miles distant； rose faintly upon the stillness of the sunset hour the rumble
of a passing train。 But if these sounds carried； the birds gave no heed。
In each drooping head and dragging wing； in the forward stoop of each
white body； weighing heavily on the slim； black legs； was written utter
weariness； abject fatigue。 To each even to lower his bill and sip from the
cool waters was a supreme effort。 And in their exhaustion so complete
was something humanly helpless and pathetic。
To Ainsley the mysterious visitors made a direct appeal。 He felt as
though they had thrown themselves upon his hospitality。 That they
showed such confidence that the sanctuary would be kept sacred touched
him。 And while his friends spoke eagerly； he remained silent； watching
the drooping； ghost…like figures； his eyes filled with pity。
〃I have seen birds like those in Florida；〃 Mortimer was whispering；
〃but they were not migratory birds。〃
〃And I've seen white cranes in the Adirondacks；〃 said Lowell； 〃but
never six at one time。〃
〃They're like no bird I ever saw out of a zoo；〃 declared Elsie Mortimer。
〃Maybe they ARE from the Zoo？ Maybe they escaped from the Bronx？〃
〃The Bronx is too near；〃 objected Lowell。 〃These birds have come a
great distance。 They move as though they had been flying for many
days。〃
As though the absurdity of his own thought amused him； Mortimer
laughed softly。
〃I'll tell you what they DO look like；〃 he said。 〃They look like that
bird you see on the Nile； the sacred Ibis； they〃
Something between a gasp and a cry startled him into silence。 He
found his host staring wildly； his lips parted； his eyes open wide。
〃Where？〃 demanded Ainsley。 〃Where did you say？〃 His voice was
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so hoarse； so strange； that they all turned and looked。
〃On the Nile；〃 repeated Mortimer。 〃All over Egypt。 Why？〃
Ainsley made no answer。 Unclasping his hold； he suddenly slid
down the face of the rock； and with a bump lit on his hands and knees。
With one bound he had cleared a flower…bed。 In two more he had
mounted the steps to the terrace； and in another instant had disappeared
into the house。
〃What happened to him？〃 demanded Elsie Mortimer。
〃He's gone to get a gun！〃 exclaimed Mortimer。 〃But he mustn't！ How
can he think of shooting them？〃 he cried indignantly。 〃I'll put a stop to
that！〃
In the hall he found Ainsley surrounded by a group of startled servants。
〃You get that car at the door in five minutes！〃 he was shouting； 〃and
YOU telephone the hotel to have my trunks out of the cellar and on board
the Kron Prinz Albert by midnight。 Then you telephone Hoboken that I
want a cabin； and if they haven't got a cabin I wan