[CHAPTER XII] _The Guardian_
The next morning ushered in a glorious day, sunny and bright. The skywas a clear blue, and only a slight breeze ruffled the leaves of thetrees. Even before Twinkle and Chubbins were awake the birds werecalling merrily to one another throughout the forest, and the chipmonkschirped in their own brisk, businesslike way as they scuttled from treeto tree.
While the child-larks were finishing their breakfast Policeman Bluejaycame to them, his feathers looking fresh and glossy and all hisgorgeous colorings appearing especially beautiful in the sunshine.
"Today will be a rare day to visit the Paradise," he said; "so I havecome to escort you to the Guardian of the Entrance, who I am sure willarrange for you to enter that wonderful country."
"It is very kind of you to remember our wish," said Twinkle. "We areall ready."
So they flew above the tree-tops and began their journey toward thecenter of the forest.
"Where's your p'liceman's hat and club?" Chubbins asked the bluejay.
"Why, I left them at home," was the reply. "I'm not on official dutytoday, you know, and the Guardian does not like to see anything thatlooks like a weapon. In his country there are no such things asquarrels or fighting, or naughtiness of any sort; for as they haveeverything they want there is nothing to quarrel over or fight for. TheBirds of Paradise have laws, I understand; but they obey them becausethey are told to, and not because they are forced to. It would be a badcountry for a policeman to live in."
"But a good place for everyone else," said Twinkle.
"Perhaps so," agreed the policeman, reluctantly. "But I sometimes thinkthe goody-goody places would get awful tiresome to live in, after atime. Here in our part of the forest there is a little excitement, forthe biggest birds only obey our laws through fear of punishment, and Iunderstand it is just the same in the world of men. But in the Birds'Paradise there lives but one race, every member of which is quiteparticular not to annoy any of his fellows in any way. That is why theywill admit no disturbing element into their country. If you areadmitted, my dears, you must be very careful not to offend any one thatyou meet."
"We'll try to be good," promised Chubbins.
"I would not dare to take any of my own people there," continued thebluejay, flying swiftly along as they talked together; "but you two aredifferent, and more like the fairy Birds of Paradise themselves thanlike our forest birds. That is the reason I feel sure the Guardian willadmit you."
"I'm naughty sometimes, and so is Chubbins," said Twinkle, honestly."But we try not to be any naughtier than we can help."
"I am sure you will behave very nicely," replied the bluejay.
After a time the rosy glow appeared reflected in the blue sky, and asthey flew toward it the soft and delightful radiance seemed to grow anddeepen in intensity. It did not dazzle their eyes in the least, but asthe light penetrated the forest and its furthest rays fell upon thegroup, they experienced a queer sense of elation and light-hearted joy.
But now the breeze freshened and grew more strong, pressing againsttheir feathered breasts so gently yet powerfully that they soondiscovered they were not advancing at all, but simply fluttering in theair.
"Drop down to the ground," whispered the bluejay; and they obeyed hisinjunction and found that close to the earth the wind was not sostrong.
"That is a secret I learned some time ago," said their friend. "Mostbirds who seek to enter the Paradise try to beat against the wind, andare therefore always driven back; but there is just one way to approachthe Guardian near enough to converse with him. After that it dependsentirely upon his good-will whether you get any farther."
The wind still blew so strongly that it nearly took their breath away,but by creeping steadily over the ground they were able to proceedslowly, and after a time the pressure of the wind grew less and less,until it suddenly ceased altogether.
Then they stopped to rest and to catch their breaths, but before thishappened Twinkle and Chubbins both uttered exclamations of amazement atthe sight that met their eyes.
Before them was a grove composed of stately trees not made of wood, buthaving trunks of polished gold and silver and leaves of exquisitemetallic colorings. Beneath the trees was a mass of brilliant flowers,exceedingly rare and curious in form, and as our little friends lookedupon them these flowers suddenly began a chant of greeting and thensang a song so sweet and musical that the lark-children were entrancedand listened in rapt delight.
When the song ended the flowers all nodded their heads in a pretty way,and Twinkle drew a long breath and murmured:
"Isn't it odd to hear flowers sing? I'm sure the birds themselvescannot beat that music."
"They won't try," replied the policeman, "for Birds of Paradise do notsing."
"How strange!" exclaimed the girl.
"The land they live in is so full of music that they do not need to,"continued the bluejay. "But before us is the entrance, leading throughthe limbs of that great golden tree you see at the left. Fly swiftlywith me, and perch upon the middle branch."
With these words he darted toward the tree, and Twinkle and Chubbinsfollowed. In a few seconds they alighted upon the branch and foundthemselves face to face with the first Bird of Paradise they had yetseen.
He possessed a graceful carriage and a most attractive form, being insize about as large as a common pigeon. His eyes were shrewd but gentlein expression and his pose as he stood regarding the newcomers wasdignified and impressive. But the children had little time to notethese things because their wondering eyes were riveted upon the bird'smagnificent plumage. The feathers lay so smoothly against his body thatthey seemed to present a solid surface, and in color they were aglistening emerald green upon the neck and wings, shading down on thebreast to a softer green and then to a pure white. The mainwing-feathers were white, tipped with vivid scarlet, and the whitefeathers of his crest were also tipped with specks of flame. But histail feathers were the most beautiful of all his gay uniform. Theyspread out in the shape of a fan, and every other feather was brilliantgreen and its alternate feather snow white.
"How lovely!" cried Twinkle, and the bird bowed its head and with amerry glance from its eyes responded:
"Your admiration highly honors me, little stranger."
"This," said Policeman Bluejay, "is the important official called theGuardian of the Entrance of Paradise. Sir Guardian, permit me tointroduce to you two children of men who have been magicallytransformed into skylarks against their will. They are not quite birds,because their heads retain the human shape; but whatever form they maybear, their natures are sweet and innocent and I deem them worthy toassociate for a brief time with your splendid and regal race. ThereforeI have brought them here to commend them to your hospitality andgood-will, and I hope you will receive them as your guests."
"What are your names, little strangers?" asked the Guardian.
"Mama calls me Twinkle," said the girl.
"I'm Chubbins," said the boy.
The Guardian looked attentively at the bluejay.
"You know our regulations," said he; "no birds of the forest areadmitted to our Paradise."
"I know," replied the policeman. "I will await my little friends here.It is pleasure enough for me to have just this glimpse of yourbeautiful fairyland."
The Guardian nodded his approval of this speech.
"Very well," he answered, "you shall remain and visit with me. If allforest birds were like you, my friend, there would be little danger inadmitting them into our society. But they are not, and the laws must beregarded. As for the child-larks, I will send them first to the King,in charge of the Royal Messenger, whom I will now summon."
He tossed his head upward with an abrupt motion, and in the tree-top achime of golden bells rang musically in the air. The flowers beneaththem caught up the refrain, and sang it softly until another bird camedarting through the air and alighted on the golden limb beside theGuardian.
The newcomer was differently garbed from the other. His plumage w
asorange and white, the crest and wing-feathers being tipped with brightblue. Nor was he so large as the Guardian, nor so dignified indemeanor. Indeed, his expression was rather merry and roguish, and ashe saw the strangers he gave a short, sharp whistle of surprise.
"My dear Ephel," said the Guardian, "oblige me by escorting thesechild-larks to the presence of his Majesty the King."
"I am delighted to obey your request," answered Ephel the Messenger,brightly. Then, turning to Twinkle and Chubbins, he added: "I trust youwill find my society agreeable during our flight to the royal monarchof Paradise."
Twinkle was too much embarrassed by this politeness to answer at once,but Chubbins said "Sure thing!" in a matter-of-fact voice, and theMessenger nodded gaily and continued:
"Then we will go, if it pleases you."
He spread his wings in a flash of color and sped away into theParadise, and the children eagerly followed him.