Older heads than that of the boy were now considerate of their welfare.

Lucky sparrows were they! As for the youth, he had, that night, queer dreams, which he remembered all his life.

He was battling with the snakes again, and the fortunes of war shifted, and there was much trouble until daylight.

Then, with the sun breaking in a blaze upon the clearing, with the ground and trees flashing forth illuminated dew-drops, with a clangor of thousands of melodious bird-voices--even the bereaved father song-sparrow was singing--he was his own large self again, and went forth conquering and to conquer.

He found the murdered nestling stranded down the creek, and buried it with ceremony.