第1章

OnedayitoccurredtomethatithadbeenmanyyearssincetheworldhadbeenaffordedthespectacleofamanadventurousenoughtoundertakeajourneythroughEuropeonfoot。Aftermuchthought，IdecidedthatIwasapersonfittedtofurnishtomankindthisspectacle。

SoIdeterminedtodoit。ThiswasinMarch，1878。

Ilookedaboutmefortherightsortofpersontoaccompanymeinthecapacityofagent，andfinallyhiredaMr。Harrisforthisservice。

ItwasalsomypurposetostudyartwhileinEurope。

Mr。Harriswasinsympathywithmeinthis。HewasasmuchofanenthusiastinartasIwas，andnotlessanxioustolearntopaint。IdesiredtolearntheGermanlanguage；

sodidHarris。

TowardthemiddleofAprilwesailedintheHOLSATIA，CaptainBrandt，andhadaverypeasanttrip，indeed。

AfterabriefrestatHamburg，wemadepreparationsforalongpedestriantripsouthwardinthesoftspringweather，butatthelastmomentwechangedtheprogram，forprivatereasons，andtooktheexpress-train。

WemadeashorthaltatFrankfort-on-the-Main，andfounditaninterestingcity。IwouldhavelikedtovisitthebirthplaceofGutenburg，butitcouldnotbedone，asnomemorandumofthesiteofthehousehasbeenkept。

SowespentanhourintheGoethemansioninstead。

Thecitypermitsthishousetobelongtoprivateparties，insteadofgracinganddignifyingherselfwiththehonorofpossessingandprotectingit。

Frankfortisoneofthesixteencitieswhichhavethedistinctionofbeingtheplacewherethefollowingincidentoccurred。Charlemagne，whilechasingtheSaxons(asHEsaid)，orbeingchasedbythem(asTHEYsaid)，arrivedatthebankoftheriveratdawn，inafog。

Theenemywereeitherbeforehimorbehindhim；

butinanycasehewantedtogetacross，verybadly。

Hewouldhavegivenanythingforaguide，butnonewastobehad。Presentlyhesawadeer，followedbyheryoung，approachthewater。Hewatchedher，judgingthatshewouldseekaford，andhewasright。Shewadedover，andthearmyfollowed。SoagreatFrankishvictoryordefeatwasgainedoravoided；andinordertocommemoratetheepisode，Charlemagnecommandedacitytobebuiltthere，whichhenamedFrankfort——thefordoftheFranks。

Noneoftheothercitieswherethiseventhappenedwerenamedforit。ThisisgoodevidencethatFrankfortwasthefirstplaceitoccurredat。

Frankforthasanotherdistinction——itisthebirthplaceoftheGermanalphabet；oratleastoftheGermanwordforalphabet——BUCHSTABEN。Theysaythatthefirstmovabletypesweremadeonbirchsticks——BUCHSTABE——hencethename。

IwastaughtalessoninpoliticaleconomyinFrankfort。

Ihadbroughtfromhomeaboxcontainingathousandverycheapcigars。Bywayofexperiment，Isteppedintoalittleshopinaqueeroldbackstreet，tookfourgailydecoratedboxesofwaxmatchesandthreecigars，andlaiddownasilverpieceworth48cents。Themangaveme43centschange。

InFrankforteverybodywearscleanclothes，andIthinkwenoticedthatthisstrangethingwasthecaseinHamburg，too，andinthevillagesalongtheroad。EveninthenarrowestandpoorestandmostancientquartersofFrankfortneatandcleanclothesweretherule。Thelittlechildrenofbothsexeswerenearlyalwaysniceenoughtotakeintoabody\'slap。Andasfortheuniformsofthesoldiers，theywerenewnessandbrightnesscarriedtoperfection。

Onecouldneverdetectasmirchoragrainofdustuponthem。Thestreet-carconductorsanddriversworeprettyuniformswhichseemedtobejustoutofthebandbox，andtheirmannerswereasfineastheirclothes。

InoneoftheshopsIhadthelucktostumbleuponabookwhichhascharmedmenearlytodeath。ItisentitledTHELEGENDSOFTHERHINEFROMBASLETOROTTERDAM，byF。J。Kiefer；translatedbyL。W。Garnham，B。A。

AlltouristsMENTIONtheRhinelegends——inthatsortofwaywhichquietlypretendsthatthementionerhasbeenfamiliarwiththemallhislife，andthatthereadercannotpossiblybeignorantofthem——butnotouristeverTELLSthem。

Sothislittlebookfedmeinaveryhungryplace；andI，inmyturn，intendtofeedmyreader，withoneortwolittlelunchesfromthesamelarder。IshallnotmarGarnharn\'stranslationbymeddlingwithitsEnglish；

forthemosttoothsomethingaboutitisitsquaintfashionofbuildingEnglishsentencesontheGermanplan——

andpunctuatingthemaccordinglytonoplanatall。

Inthechapterdevotedto\"LegendsofFrankfort，\"

Ifindthefollowing:

\"THEKNAVEOFBERGEN\"

\"InFrankfortattheRomerwasagreatmask-ball，atthecoronationfestival，andintheilluminatedsaloon，theclangingmusicinvitedtodance，andsplendidlyappearedtherichtoiletsandcharmsoftheladies，andthefestivelycostumedPrincesandKnights。

Allseemedpleasure，joy，androguishgaiety，onlyoneofthenumerousguestshadagloomyexterior；butexactlytheblackarmorinwhichhewalkedaboutexcitedgeneralattention，andhistallfigure，aswellasthenobleproprietyofhismovements，attractedespeciallytheregardsoftheladies。

WhotheKnightwas?Nobodycouldguess，forhisVizierwaswellclosed，andnothingmadehimrecognizable。

ProudandyetmodestheadvancedtotheEmpress；bowedononekneebeforeherseat，andbeggedforthefavorofawaltzwiththeQueenofthefestival。Andsheallowedhisrequest。Withlightandgracefulstepshedancedthroughthelongsaloon，withthesovereignwhothoughtnevertohavefoundamoredexterousandexcellentdancer。

Butalsobythegraceofhismanner，andfineconversationheknewtowintheQueen，andshegraciouslyaccordedhimaseconddanceforwhichhebegged，athird，andafourth，aswellasotherswerenotrefusedhim。Howallregardedthehappydancer，howmanyenviedhimthehighfavor；

howincreasedcuriosity，whothemaskedknightcouldbe。

\"AlsotheEmperorbecamemoreandmoreexcitedwithcuriosity，andwithgreatsuspenseoneawaitedthehour，whenaccordingtomask-law，eachmaskedguestmustmakehimselfknown。

Thismomentcame，butalthoughallotherunmasked；

thesecretknightstillrefusedtoallowhisfeaturestobeseen，tillatlasttheQueendrivenbycuriosity，andvexedattheobstinaterefusal；commandedhimtoopenhisVizier。Heopenedit，andnoneofthehighladiesandknightsknewhim。Butfromthecrowdedspectators，2officialsadvanced，whorecognizedtheblackdancer，andhorrorandterrorspreadinthesaloon，astheysaidwhothesupposedknightwas。ItwastheexecutionerofBergen。

Butglowingwithrage，theKingcommandedtoseizethecriminalandleadhimtodeath，whohadventuredtodance，withthequeen；sodisgracedtheEmpress，andinsultedthecrown。TheculpablethrewhimselfattheEmperor，andsaid——

\"\'IndeedIhaveheavilysinnedagainstallnobleguestsassembledhere，butmostheavilyagainstyoumysovereignandmyqueen。TheQueenisinsultedbymyhaughtinessequaltotreason，butnopunishmentevenblood，willnotbeabletowashoutthedisgrace，whichyouhavesufferedbyme。ThereforeohKing!allowmetoproposearemedy，toeffacetheshame，andtorenderitasifnotdone。

Drawyourswordandknightme，thenIwillthrowdownmygauntlet，toeveryonewhodarestospeakdisrespectfullyofmyking。\'

\"TheEmperorwassurprisedatthisboldproposal，howeveritappearedthewisesttohim；\'Youareaknaveherepliedafteramoment\'sconsideration，howeveryouradviceisgood，anddisplaysprudence，asyouroffenseshowsadventurouscourage。Wellthen，andgavehimtheknight-strokesoIraiseyoutonobility，whobeggedforgraceforyouroffensenowkneelsbeforeme，riseasknight；

knavishyouhaveacted，andKnaveofBergenshallyoubecalledhenceforth，andgladlytheBlackknightrose；

threecheersweregiveninhonoroftheEmperor，andloudcriesofjoytestifiedtheapprobationwithwhichtheQueendancedstilloncewiththeKnaveofBergen。\"

CHAPTERII

Heidelberg[LandingaMonarchatHeidelberg]

Westoppedatahotelbytherailway-station。Nextmorning，aswesatinmyroomwaitingforbreakfasttocomeup，wegotagooddealinterestedinsomethingwhichwasgoingonovertheway，infrontofanotherhotel。

First，thepersonagewhoiscalledthePORTIER(whoisnotthePORTER，butisasortoffirst-mateofahotel)

[1。SeeAppendixA]appearedatthedoorinaspick-and-spannewblueclothuniform，decoratedwithshiningbrassbuttons，andwithbandsofgoldlacearoundhiscapandwristbands；

andheworewhitegloves，too。Heshedanofficialglanceuponthesituation，andthenbegantogiveorders。

Twowomen-servantscameoutwithpailsandbroomsandbrushes，andgavethesidewalkathoroughscrubbing；

meanwhiletwoothersscrubbedthefourmarblestepswhichleduptothedoor；beyondthesewecouldseesomemen-servantstakingupthecarpetofthegrandstaircase。

Thiscarpetwascarriedawayandthelastgrainofdustbeatenandbangedandsweptourofit；thenbroughtbackandputdownagain。Thebrassstair-rodsreceivedanexhaustivepolishingandwerereturnedtotheirplaces。

Nowatroopofservantsbroughtpotsandtubsofbloomingplantsandformedthemintoabeautifuljungleaboutthedoorandthebaseofthestaircase。

Otherservantsadornedallthebalconiesofthevariousstorieswithflowersandbanners；othersascendedtotheroofandhoistedagreatflagonastaffthere。

Nowcamesomemorechamber-maidsandretouchedthesidewalk，andafterwardwipedthemarblestepswithdampclothsandfinishedbydustingthemoffwithfeatherbrushes。

Nowabroadblackcarpetwasbroughtoutandlaiddownthemarblestepsandoutacrossthesidewalktothecurbstone。

ThePORTIERcasthiseyealongit，andfounditwasnotabsolutelystraight；hecommandedittobestraightened；

theservantsmadetheeffort——madeseveralefforts，infact——butthePORTIERwasnotsatisfied。Hefinallyhadittakenup，andthenheputitdownhimselfandgotitright。

Atthisstageoftheproceedings，anarrowbrightredcarpetwasunrolledandstretchedfromthetopofthemarblestepstothecurbstone，alongthecenteroftheblackcarpet。ThisredpathcostthePORTIER

moretroublethaneventheblackonehaddone。Buthepatientlyfixedandrefixedituntilitwasexactlyrightandlaypreciselyinthemiddleoftheblackcarpet。

InNewYorktheseperformanceswouldhavegatheredamightycrowdofcuriousandintenselyinterestedspectators；

buthereitonlycapturedanaudienceofhalfadozenlittleboyswhostoodinarowacrossthepavement，somewiththeirschool-knapsacksontheirbacksandtheirhandsintheirpockets，otherswitharmsfullofbundles，andallabsorbedintheshow。Occasionallyoneofthemskippedirreverentlyoverthecarpetandtookupapositionontheotherside。ThisalwaysvisiblyannoyedthePORTIER。

Nowcameawaitinginterval。Thelandlord，inplainclothes，andbareheaded，placedhimselfonthebottommarblestep，abreastthePORTIER，whostoodontheotherendofthesamesteps；sixoreightwaiters，gloved，bareheaded，andwearingtheirwhitestlinen，theirwhitestcravats，andtheirfinestswallow-tails，groupedthemselvesaboutthesechiefs，butleavingthecarpetwayclear。

Nobodymovedorspokeanymorebutonlywaited。

Inashorttimetheshrillpipingofacomingtrainwasheard，andimmediatelygroupsofpeoplebegantogatherinthestreet。

Twoorthreeopencarriagesarrived，anddepositedsomemaidsofhonorandsomemaleofficialsatthehotel。

PresentlyanotheropencarriagebroughttheGrandDukeofBaden，astatelymaninuniform，whoworethehandsomebrass-mounted，steel-spikedhelmetofthearmyonhishead。

LastcametheEmpressofGermanyandtheGrandDuchessofBadeninaclosedcarriage；thesepassedthroughthelow-bowinggroupsofservantsanddisappearedinthehotel，exhibitingtousonlythebacksoftheirheads，andthentheshowwasover。

Itappearstobeasdifficulttolandamonarchasitistolaunchaship。

ButastoHeidelberg。Theweatherwasgrowingprettywarm，——verywarm，infact。SoweleftthevalleyandtookquartersattheSchlossHotel，onthehill，abovetheCastle。

Heidelbergliesatthemouthofanarrowgorge——agorgetheshapeofashepherd\'scrook；ifonelooksupitheperceivesthatitisaboutstraight，foramileandahalf，thenmakesasharpcurvetotherightanddisappears。

Thisgorge——alongwhosebottompourstheswiftNeckar——

isconfinedbetween(orcloventhrough)acoupleoflong，steepridges，athousandfeethighanddenselywoodedcleartotheirsummits，withtheexceptionofonesectionwhichhasbeenshavedandputundercultivation。

Theseridgesarechoppedoffatthemouthofthegorgeandformtwoboldandconspicuousheadlands，withHeidelbergnestlingbetweenthem；fromtheirbasesspreadsawaythevastdimexpanseoftheRhinevalley，andintothisexpansetheNeckargoeswanderinginshiningcurvesandispresentlylosttoview。

Nowifoneturnsandlooksupthegorgeoncemore，hewillseetheSchlossHotelontherightperchedonaprecipiceoverlookingtheNeckar——aprecipicewhichissosumptuouslycushionedanddrapedwithfoliagethatnoglimpseoftherockappears。Thebuildingseemsveryairilysituated。

Ithastheappearanceofbeingonashelfhalf-wayupthewoodedmountainside；andasitisremoteandisolated，andverywhite，itmakesastrongmarkagainsttheloftyleafyrampartatitsback。

Thishotelhadafeaturewhichwasadecidednovelty，andonewhichmightbeadoptedwithadvantagebyanyhousewhichisperchedinacommandingsituation。Thisfeaturemaybedescribedasaseriesofglass-enclosedparlorsCLINGINGTOTHEOUTSIDEOFTHEHOUSE，oneagainsteachandeverybed-chamberanddrawing-room。Theyarelikelong，narrow，high-ceiledbird-cageshungagainstthebuilding。

Myroomwasacornerroom，andhadtwoofthesethings，anorthoneandawestone。

FromthenorthcageonelooksuptheNeckargorge；

fromthewestonehelooksdownit。Thislastaffordsthemostextensiveview，anditisoneoftheloveliestthatcanbeimagined，too。Outofabillowyupheavalofvividgreenfoliage，arifle-shotremoved，risesthehugeruinofHeidelbergCastle，[2。SeeAppendixB]withemptywindowarches，ivy-mailedbattlements，molderingtowers——theLearofinanimatenature——deserted，discrowned，beatenbythestorms，butroyalstill，andbeautiful。ItisafinesighttoseetheeveningsunlightsuddenlystriketheleafydeclivityattheCastle\'sbaseanddashupitanddrenchitaswithaluminousspray，whiletheadjacentgrovesareindeepshadow。

BehindtheCastleswellsagreatdome-shapedhill，forest-clad，andbeyondthatanoblerandloftierone。

TheCastlelooksdownuponthecompactbrown-roofedtown；

andfromthetowntwopicturesqueoldbridgesspantheriver。Nowtheviewbroadens；throughthegatewayofthesentinelheadlandsyougazeoutoverthewideRhineplain，whichstretchesaway，softlyandrichlytinted，growsgraduallyanddreamilyindistinct，andfinallymeltsimperceptiblyintotheremotehorizon。

Ihaveneverenjoyedaviewwhichhadsuchasereneandsatisfyingcharmaboutitasthisonegives。

Thefirstnightwewerethere，wewenttobedandtosleepearly；butIawokeattheendoftwoorthreehours，andlayacomfortablewhilelisteningtothesoothingpatteroftherainagainstthebalconywindows。

Itookittoberain，butitturnedouttobeonlythemurmuroftherestlessNeckar，tumblingoverherdikesanddamsfarbelow，inthegorge。Igotupandwentintothewestbalconyandsawawonderfulsight。

AwaydownonthelevelundertheblackmassoftheCastle，thetownlay，stretchedalongtheriver，itsintricatecobwebofstreetsjeweledwithtwinklinglights；

therewererowsoflightsonthebridges；theseflunglancesoflightuponthewater，intheblackshadowsofthearches；andawayattheextremityofallthisfairyspectacleblinkedandglowedamassedmultitudeofgas-jetswhichseemedtocoveracresofground；

itwasasifallthediamondsintheworldhadbeenspreadoutthere。Ididnotknowbefore，thatahalf-mileofsextuplerailway-trackscouldbemadesuchanadornment。

OnethinksHeidelbergbyday——withitssurroundings——

isthelastpossibilityofthebeautiful；butwhenheseesHeidelbergbynight，afallenMilkyWay，withthatglitteringrailwayconstellationpinnedtotheborder，herequirestimetoconsiderupontheverdict。

OnenevertiresofpokingaboutinthedensewoodsthatclothealltheseloftyNeckarhillstotheirbeguilingandimpressivecharminanycountry；butGermanlegendsandfairytaleshavegiventheseanaddedcharm。

Theyhavepeopledallthatregionwithgnomes，anddwarfs，andallsortsofmysteriousanduncannycreatures。

AtthetimeIamwritingof，IhadbeenreadingsomuchofthisliteraturethatsometimesIwasnotsurebutI

wasbeginningtobelieveinthegnomesandfairiesasrealities。

OneafternoonIgotlostinthewoodsaboutamilefromthehotel，andpresentlyfellintoatrainofdreamythoughtaboutanimalswhichtalk，andkobolds，andenchantedfolk，andtherestofthepleasantlegendarystuff；andso，bystimulatingmyfancy，IfinallygottoimaginingI

glimpsedsmallflittingshapeshereandtheredownthecolumnedaislesoftheforest。Itwasaplacewhichwaspeculiarlymeetfortheoccasion。Itwasapinewood，withsothickandsoftacarpetofbrownneedlesthatone\'sfootfallmadenomoresoundthanifheweretreadingonwool；thetree-trunkswereasroundandstraightandsmoothaspillars，andstoodclosetogether；

theywerebareofbranchestoapointabouttwenty-fivefeetabove-ground，andfromthereupwardsothickwithboughsthatnotarayofsunlightcouldpiercethrough。

Theworldwasbrightwithsunshineoutside，butadeepandmellowtwilightreignedinthere，andalsoadeepsilencesoprofoundthatIseemedtohearmyownbreathings。

WhenIhadstoodtenminutes，thinkingandimagining，andgettingmyspiritintunewiththeplace，andintherightmoodtoenjoythesupernatural，aravensuddenlyutteredahorsecroakovermyhead。Itmademestart；

andthenIwasangrybecauseIstarted。Ilookedup，andthecreaturewassittingonalimbrightoverme，lookingdownatme。Ifeltsomethingofthesamesenseofhumiliationandinjurywhichonefeelswhenhefindsthatahumanstrangerhasbeenclandestinelyinspectinghiminhisprivacyandmentallycommentinguponhim。

Ieyedtheraven，andtheraveneyedme。Nothingwassaidduringsomeseconds。Thenthebirdsteppedalittlewayalonghislimbtogetabetterpointofobservation，liftedhiswings，stuckhisheadfardownbelowhisshoulderstowardmeandcroakedagain——acroakwithadistinctlyinsultingexpressionaboutit。IfhehadspokeninEnglishhecouldnothavesaidanymoreplainlythathedidsayinraven，\"Well，whatdoYOUwanthere?\"

IfeltasfoolishasifIhadbeencaughtinsomemeanactbyaresponsiblebeing，andreprovedforit。However，I

madenoreply；Iwouldnotbandywordswitharaven。

Theadversarywaitedawhile，withhisshouldersstilllifted，hisheadthrustdownbetweenthem，andhiskeenbrighteyefixedonme；thenhethrewouttwoorthreemoreinsults，whichIcouldnotunderstand，furtherthanthatI

knewaportionofthemconsistedoflanguagenotusedinchurch。

Istillmadenoreply。Nowtheadversaryraisedhisheadandcalled。Therewasanansweringcroakfromalittledistanceinthewood——evidentlyacroakofinquiry。

Theadversaryexplainedwithenthusiasm，andtheotherravendroppedeverythingandcame。Thetwosatsidebysideonthelimbanddiscussedmeasfreelyandoffensivelyastwogreatnaturalistsmightdiscussanewkindofbug。

Thethingbecamemoreandmoreembarrassing。Theycalledinanotherfriend。Thiswastoomuch。Isawthattheyhadtheadvantageofme，andsoIconcludedtogetoutofthescrapebywalkingoutofit。Theyenjoyedmydefeatasmuchasanylowwhitepeoplecouldhavedone。

Theycranedtheirnecksandlaughedatme(foraravenCANlaugh，justlikeaman)，theysqualledinsultingremarksaftermeaslongastheycouldseeme。Theywerenothingbutravens——Iknewthat——whattheythoughtofmecouldbeamatterofnoconsequence——andyetwhenevenaravenshoutsafteryou，\"Whatahat!\"\"Oh，pulldownyourvest!\"

andthatsortofthing，ithurtsyouandhumiliatesyou，andthereisnogettingarounditwithfinereasoningandprettyarguments。

Animalstalktoeachother，ofcourse。Therecanbenoquestionaboutthat；butIsupposethereareveryfewpeoplewhocanunderstandthem。Ineverknewbutonemanwhocould。Iknewhecould，however，becausehetoldmesohimself。Hewasamiddle-aged，simple-heartedminerwhohadlivedinalonelycornerofCalifornia，amongthewoodsandmountains，agoodmanyyears，andhadstudiedthewaysofhisonlyneighbors，thebeastsandthebirds，untilhebelievedhecouldaccuratelytranslateanyremarkwhichtheymade。ThiswasJimBaker。

AccordingtoJimBaker，someanimalshaveonlyalimitededucation，andsomeuseonlysimplewords，andscarcelyeveracomparisonorafloweryfigure；

whereas，certainotheranimalshavealargevocabulary，afinecommandoflanguageandareadyandfluentdelivery；

consequentlytheselattertalkagreatdeal；theylikeit；

theyaresoconsciousoftheirtalent，andtheyenjoy\"showingoff。\"Bakersaid，thatafterlongandcarefulobservation，hehadcometotheconclusionthatthebluejayswerethebesttalkershehadfoundamongbirdsandbeasts。Saidhe:

\"There\'smoreTOabluejaythananyothercreature。

Hehasgotmoremoods，andmoredifferentkindsoffeelingsthanothercreatures；and，mindyou，whateverabluejayfeels，hecanputintolanguage。

Andnomerecommonplacelanguage，either，butrattling，out-and-outbook-talk——andbristlingwithmetaphor，too——justbristling!Andasforcommandoflanguage——whyYOUneverseeabluejaygetstuckforaword。Nomaneverdid。Theyjustboiloutofhim!Andanotherthing:

I\'venoticedagooddeal，andthere\'snobird，orcow，oranythingthatusesasgoodgrammarasabluejay。

Youmaysayacatusesgoodgrammar。Well，acatdoes——butyouletacatgetexcitedonce；youletacatgettopullingfurwithanothercatonashed，nights，andyou\'llheargrammarthatwillgiveyouthelockjaw。

Ignorantpeoplethinkit\'stheNOISEwhichfightingcatsmakethatissoaggravating，butitain\'tso；

it\'sthesickeninggrammartheyuse。NowI\'veneverheardajayusebadgrammarbutveryseldom；andwhentheydo，theyareasashamedasahuman；theyshutrightdownandleave。

\"Youmaycallajayabird。Well，soheis，inameasure——

buthe\'sgotfeathersonhim，anddon\'tbelongtonochurch，perhaps；butotherwiseheisjustasmuchhumanasyoube。

AndI\'lltellyouforwhy。Ajay\'sgifts，andinstincts，andfeelings，andinterests，coverthewholeground。

Ajayhasn\'tgotanymoreprinciplethanaCongressman。

Ajaywilllie，ajaywillsteal，ajaywilldeceive，ajaywillbetray；andfourtimesoutoffive，ajaywillgobackonhissolemnestpromise。Thesacrednessofanobligationissuchathingwhichyoucan\'tcramintonobluejay\'shead。Now，ontopofallthis，there\'sanotherthing；ajaycanout-swearanygentlemaninthemines。Youthinkacatcanswear。Well，acatcan；

butyougiveabluejayasubjectthatcallsforhisreserve-powers，andwhereisyourcat?Don\'ttalktoME——I

knowtoomuchaboutthisthing；intheonelittleparticularofscolding——justgood，clean，out-and-outscolding——

abluejaycanlayoveranything，humanordivine。

Yes，sir，ajayiseverythingthatamanis。Ajaycancry，ajaycanlaugh，ajaycanfeelshame，ajaycanreasonandplananddiscuss，ajaylikesgossipandscandal，ajayhasgotasenseofhumor，ajayknowswhenheisanassjustaswellasyoudo——maybebetter。Ifajayain\'thuman，hebettertakeinhissign，that\'sall。

NowI\'mgoingtotellyouaperfectlytruefactaboutsomebluejays。

CHAPTERIII