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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 interjections； borrowed from all manner of classical
and unclassical tongues。
〃Strand！ Strand！〃 he cried； when the first tumult of excitement had
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
subsided； 〃you most marvelous and incomprehensible Strand！ From
what region of heaven or earth did you jump down into our prosaic
neighborhood？ And what in the world possessed you to choose our barns
as the centre of your operations； and nearly put me to the necessity of
having you arrested for vagrancy？ How I do regret that Cousin Augusta's
entreaties mollified my heart toward you。 Pardon me； I have not
introduced you。 This is my cousin； Miss Oddson； and this is my
miraculous friend； the world…renowned author； vagrant； and naturalist； Mr。
Marcus Strand。〃
Strand stepped forward； made a deep but somewhat awkward bow； and
was dimly aware that a small soft hand was extended to him； and； in the
next moment； was enclosed in his own broad and voluminous palm。 He
grasped it firmly； and； in one of those profound abstractions into which he
was apt to fall when under the sway of a strong impression； pressed it with
increasing cordiality； while he endeavored to find fitting answers to
Arnfinn's multifarious questions。
〃To tell the truth； Vording；〃 he said； in a deep； full…ringing bass； 〃I
didn't know that these were your cousin's barnsI mean that your uncle〃
giving the unhappy hand an emphatic shake〃inhabited these barns。〃
〃No； thank heaven； we are not quite reduced to that；〃 cried Arnfinn；
gayly； 〃we still boast a parsonage； as you will presently discover； and a
very bright and cozy one； to boot。 But； whatever you do； have the
goodness to release Augusta's hand。 Don't you see how desperately she
is struggling； poor thing？〃
Strand dropped the hand as if it had been a hot coal； blushed to the
edge of his hair； and made another profound reverence。 He was a tall；
huge…limbed youth； with a frame of gigantic mold； and a large； blonde；
shaggy head； like that of some good…natured antediluvian animal； which
might feel the disadvantages of its size amid the puny beings of this later
stage of creation。 There was a frank directness in his gaze； and an
unconsciousness of self； which made him very winning； and which could
not fail of its effect upon a girl who； like Augusta； was fond of the
uncommon； and hated smooth； facile and wel