Part 18 (1/2)
”Yes--listen!” said Miss Chase; and as another burst of thick-toned mirth reached them, ”There--don't you hear that?”
Nesta rolled down into her pillow, and fairly shouted into it
”What is the matter with the child?” asked Miss Chase in bewilderasped Nesta, as soon as she had any voice to speak with
”Those aren't people; they're birds!”
”Birds!” said Miss Chase ”Impossible You must be asleep still, or you didn't hear what I said”
”Yes, I did,” Nesta replied ”You mean those funny fat chuckles and ha-ha's? Well, those are birds--the laughing jackasses I can show them to you in a minute”
Out they both went on to the veranda, and in the fast-increasing light Nesta pointed out sohtly-hued birds, not unlike kingfishers in appearance, but very er They had without doubt the funniest faces Miss Chase had ever seen Not only did they laugh aloud--they positively grinned, so cohed herself till the tears ran down her cheeks, and Nesta put her head down on the veranda railing and ith laughter too
The sun was up now, there being practically no twilight either before sunrise or after sunset in North Queensland The glory of the scene sobered Miss Chase, and she stood watching
The glee of the birds was explained They sat and laughed as they watched for their prey, then pounced down upon the unwary locusts or lizards they hadtriu
”It is really rather horrid of them, isn't it?” said Miss Chase
But Nesta did not sympathize
”nobodyeaten--nasty things When there is a plague of thear-cane”
Over the tree-tops in the valley below appeared a cloud of shi+ swiftly round the base of the hill
”What is that?” asked Miss Chase curiously
”White cockatoos,” said Nesta, with a yawn; ”they're changing their feeding-ground--white cockatoos with bright yellow crests But, I say, don't you think you had better go back to bed? You're looking awfully tired”
”Is that one for htly
”Personally, I would rather dress and go for a walk in the wood down there”
”I don't think you had better,” Nesta said, shaking her head doubtfully ”We aren't allowed to go there alone It is awfully easy to get lost; and then there are snakes and things You ht hed Miss Chase, leading the way back to bed, ”you don't give a very flattering description Why, at home I'm often up at sunrise, out all by myself in the woods You don't even ood care not to be seen”
”I think England hed Nesta
”I wonder if you would really think so,” Miss Chase responded ”Mr
Cochrane gave you a very dismal picture of it, remember”
”Oh, but Bob has never been there Besides, he was only exaggerating, because he doesn't want us to go, you know”