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