"I think I can smell ham and cornbread," she said aloud, and laughed, partly at the absurdity of her fancy, chiefly at the idea of such attractive food.

She aggravated her hunger by letting her imagination loose upon the glorious possibilities.

A stealthy fluttering brought her glance back to the point where the hen had disappeared.

The hen reappeared, hastened down the path and through the weeds, and rejoined the flock in the yard with an air which seemed to say, "No, indeed, I've been right here all the time." "Now, what was she up to ?" wondered Susan, and the answer came to her.

Eggs! A nest hidden somewhere near or in the base of the rock! Could she get down to that nest without being seen from the house or from any other part of the region below?
She drew back from the edge, crawled through the grass to the place where the path, if path it could be called, reached the top.