Then of
course the whole posse of them swarmed into our nice tidy cottage and
skylarked with every single thing they could lay paws on, till perhaps
they got hungry all at once, and bethought them of the "ginseng", as
you call it, out in the woods yonder, where we found them so busy
refreshing themselves, the mischievous villains!'
`While we were gazing at all this ruin in a sort of bewilderment,'
pursued Fritz, `we heard a sound of rushing wings and strange ringing
cries as of multitudes of birds passing high above us, and looking up
we perceived them flying quickly in a wedge-shaped flock at a great
height in the air. They began gradually to descend, taking the
direction of the lake, and separated into a number of small detachments
which followed in a long straight line, and at a slower rate, the
movements of the leaders, who appeared to be examining the
neighbourhood. We could now see what large birds they must be, but
dared not show ourselves or follow them, lest they should take alarm.
`Presently, and with one accord, they quickened their motion, just as
if the band had begun to play a quick march after a slow one, and
rapidly descended to earth in a variety of lively ways, and near enough
for us to see that they must be cranes.
`Some alighted at once, while others hovered sportively over them.
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