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Sylvie spent the next day in the forest with a young man.

He told her a lot about the birds they saw.

Sylvie would have had a much better time if the young man had left his gun at home.

She could not understand why he killed the birds he seemed to like so much.

She felt her heart tremble every time he shot an unsuspecting bird as it was

singing in the trees. But Sylvie watched the young man with eyes full of admiration.

She had never seen anyone so handsome and charming. A strange excitement filled her

heart. A new feeling the little girl did not recognize. Love. At last evening came

they drove the cow home together. Long after the moon came out and the young man

had fallen asleep, Sylvie was still awake. She had a plan that would get the ten

dollars for her grandmother and make the young man happy. When it was almost time

for the sun to rise she quietly left her house and hurried through the forest.

She finally reached a huge pine tree so tall it could be seen for many miles

around. Her plan was to climb to the top of the pine tree. She could see the

whole forest from there. She was sure she would be able to see where the white

heron had hidden its nest. Sylvie's bare feet and tiny fingers grabbed the trees

rough trunk. Sharp dry branches scratched at her like cat's claws. The pine trees

seemed to grow taller the higher that Sylvie climbed. The sky began to brighten in the east.

Sylvie's face was like a pale star. When at last she reached the tree's highest branch.

The golden sun's rays hit the green forest. Two hawks flew together in slow

moving circles far below Sylvie. Sylvie felt as if she could go flying among the

clouds too. To the west she could see other farms and forests. Suddenly Sylvie's dark

gray eyes caught a flash of white that grew larger and larger. A bird with broad

white wings and a long slender neck flew past Sylvie and landed on a pine branch

below her. The white heron smoothed its feathers and called to its mate sitting on

their nest in a nearby tree. Then it lifted its wings and flew away. Sylvie gave a

long sigh. She knew the wild bird secret now. Slowly she began her dangerous trip

down the ancient pine tree. She did not dare to look down and tried to forget that her

fingers hurt and her feet were bleeding. All she wanted to think about was what the