For it was the voice of a man, and it certainly was a song. Moreover, without being able to explain it exactly, they felt that it was just the kind of singing that belonged to the kind of day: it was right and natural, a fresh and windy sound in the careless notes, almost as though it was a bird that sang. So exquisite was it, indeed, that they listened spellbound without moving, standing hand in hand beneath the dark bushes. And Uncle Felix evidently heard it too, for he turned his head; instead of examining the tree-tops he peered into the rose trees just behind him, both hands held to his ears to catch the happy song. There was both joy and laughter in the very sound of it: My secret's in the wind and open sky; There is no longer any Time--to lose; The world is young with laughter; we can fly Among the imprisoned hours as we choose. The rushing minutes pause; an unused day Breaks into dawn and cheats the tired sun. The birds are singing. Hark! Come out and play! There is no hurry; life has just begun. The voice died away among the rose trees, and the birds burst into a chorus of singing everywhere, as if they carried on the song among themselves. Then, in its turn, their chorus also died away. Tim looked at his sister. He seemed about to burst--if not into song, then into a thousand pieces. "A leader!" he exclaimed, scarcely able to get the word out in his excitement. "Did you hear it?" "Tim!" she gasped--and they flew out, hand in hand still, to join their uncle in the sunshine. "Found anything?" he greeted them before they could say a word. "I heard some one singing--a man, or something--over there among the rose trees--" "And the birds," interrupted Judy. "Did you hear them?" "Uncle," cried Tim with intense conviction, "it's a sign. I do believe it's a sign--" "That's exactly what it is," a deep voice broke in behind them "--a sign; and no mistake about it either." All three turned with a start. The utterance was curiously slow; there was a little dragging pause between each word. The rose trees parted, and they found themselves face to face with some one whom they had seen twice before in their lives, and who now made his appearance for the third time therefore--the man from the End of the World: the Tramp. THE LEADER IV