GOOD-NIGHT STORIES

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 31, 7 February 1928, Page 12

GOOD-NIGHT STORIES

DAVID GOES ON A QUEER

EXPEDITION.

(Told by BLANCHE SILVER for

TETER PAN.)

David sat on the stops watching his daddy and unclc drive down the road towards the woods. They were off on a hunting trip, and David wanted to go with them, but his mamma wouldn't let him. I'll bet when I get big I'll go hunting whenever I want to," lie mused, trying hard to keep back the tears. I know I will." "Hold on there, young fellow," laughed a merry voice, and David's little friend, Gocomeback, from Travel-land, hopped down upon the step beside him. "I don t know what you were going to bet but I'd hate to see you lose it. What's the trouble, anyway, David?" David told Gocomeback of his great disappointment in not being able to go hunting with his daddy and uncle. "Well, well, now, that's funny," chuckled Gocomeback. "I was just starting on a hunting trip myself. I know! You come along with me"; and with-j out waiting for a reply, Gocomeback

caught hold of David's hand, and away they sailed through the air over mountains and seas to a strange land. ''I hope we're in time," mused Gocomeback as he led David into a wonderful cave high up among the mountains. "But, Gocomeback, where are we, anyway?" questioned David when they once more stepped down upon the ground. "What country, I mean?" "Why, son, we're in Borneo, and this cave is called White Cave," replied Gocomeback. "You've heard of birds' nest soup, haven't you? Well," when David nodded his head, "I want you to see them hunt for them." Just then several dark-skinned fellows, some carrying long four-pronged spears, with lighted candles fixed a

few inches below the prongs, some with huge baskets strapped around their waists, passed by David and Gocomeback. They swung thin rattan ladders up against the sides of the dill", and two men ascended each ladder. The fellow on top carried the four-pronged spear. He would reach out and with the aid of his lighted candle find a suitable bird's nest, and with a twist, would tear it off 011 the spear. The spear was then turned down to the other fellow on his ladder, and he would unhook the nest and drop it into his basket. "Now, when they get these nests all gathered they sort them out. bind tlicm with strips of rattan, and sell them," whispered (Jocomeback. One of the hunters let David and Gocomebaek see the nests in his basket. Most of them were pure white. "But what puzzles me," laughed David, "is what kind of a bird builds them and how it does it." "Why, the Esculent Swallow builds these nests,'' replied the hunter, "and she does it all by herself. You see, when it's laving time with Mrs. Esculent Swallow, the glands under her tongue begin to swell. From these glands comes a sticky fluid from which she makes the nest, just like a spider spins a web. around and around, you know. Only, instead of having a spinneret, as Mrs. Spider has, Mrs. Esculent Swallow Uses her tongue to press out the fluid. I hope you've enjoyed the hunt." "Indeed, T have," replied David, and. catching hold of Goc-omeback's hand, he soon found himself standing alone in his own front yard. By this time his daddy and uncle were out of sight, and, humming merrily, David ran into the house to tell bis mamma about the wonderful hunting trip he had taken with Gocomeback.