blows his nail, 85, 2 ways be foul, 85, 5 staring owl, 86, 1 keel the pot, 86, 4 parson’s saw, 86, 6 brooding in the snow, 86, 7 PART II ADVENTURES OLD AND NEW _“Some say that the age of chivalry is past. The age of chivalry is never past, so long as there is a wrong left unredressed on earth, or a man or woman left to say, ‘I will redress that wrong or spend my life in the attempt.’”_ —Charles Kingsley. [Illustration: Copyright by Edwin A. Abbey (from a Copley Print, copyright by Curtis & Cameron, Boston) THE ROUND TABLE OF KING ARTHUR (Galahad is taking his place next to Sir Lancelot, while King Arthur rises to receive the new knight)] ADVENTURES OLD AND NEW INTRODUCTION Along with our interest in the world of animals and the plant world and the seasons, we are curious to know about people. A good deal of our conversation is about what others say or do. And when we say of a man, “He _does_ things,” we pay him the highest possible compliment. Ever since man came on the earth he has been “doing things.” Centuries ago, a man found out how to make fire by striking pieces of flint together. Then other men discovered strange things that might be done by means of the mysterious flame that sprang up. Another man ventured over the hill or mountain out into the unknown world beyond, or far across the blue water that seemed to reach to the end of the world. And when the traveler returned, men listened eagerly to his stories. So from earliest days men who ventured beyond the beaten track and did things their fellows were too lazy or too timid to think of doing have been interesting to those who stayed at home. In such ways ships were built to carry voyagers to strange places. In such ways commerce sprang up, for these adventurers brought back new foods and new objects, and knowledge of men who lived in strange places. In such ways islands and continents were discovered and settled, and men made war for the possession of rich territories, and life for all men became more varied and interesting through the adventures of the daring ones. For life is full of zest and interest only in proportion as the spirit of adventure enters into it.