this softness of tone, coupled with the talking-like form of
utterance, gave me the idea of a being no longer incensed,
addressing me now in a peaceable spirit, reasoning away my
unworthy tremors, and imploring me to remain with it in the wood.
Strange as this voice without a body was, and always productive
of a slightly uncomfortable feeling on account of its mystery, it
seemed impossible to doubt that it came to me now in a spirit of
pure friendliness; and when I had recovered my composure I found
a new delight in listening to it--all the greater because of the
fear so lately experienced, and of its seeming intelligence. For
the third time I reseated myself on the same spot, and at
intervals the voice talked to me there for some time and, to my
fancy, expressed satisfaction and pleasure at my presence. But
later, without losing its friendly tone, it changed again. It
seemed to move away and to be thrown back from a considerable
distance; and, at long intervals, it would approach me again with
a new sound, which I began to interpret as of command, or
entreaty. Was it, I asked myself, inviting me to follow? And if
I obeyed, to what delightful discoveries or frightful dangers
might it lead? My curiosity together with the belief that the
being--I called it being, not bird, now--was friendly to me,
overcame all timidity, and I rose and walked at random towards
the interior of the wood. Very soon I had no doubt left that the
being had desired me to follow; for there was now a new note of
gladness in its voice, and it continued near me as I walked, at
intervals approaching me so closely as to set me staring into the
surrounding shadowy places like poor scared Kua-ko.

On this occasion, too, I began to have a new fancy, for fancy or
illusion I was determined to regard it, that some swift-footed