“Is this the kind of thing you are looking for?” he asked bashfully, as he presented a wild cherry twig.

“Oh Pete, that’s a Promethea!  I didn’t even hope to find one.”

“What’s the bird like?” asked Pete.

“Almost black wings,” said Elnora, “with clay-coloured edges, and the most wonderful wine-coloured flush over the under side if it’s a male, and stronger wine above and below if it’s a female.  Oh, aren’t I happy!”

“How would it do to make what you have into a bunch that we could leave here, and come back for them?”

“That would be all right.”

Relieved of his load Pete began work.  First, he narrowly examined the cocoons Elnora had found.  He questioned her as to what other kinds would be like.  He began to use the eyes of a trained woodman and hunter in her behalf.  He saw several so easily, and moved through the forest so softly, that Elnora forgot the moths in watching him.  Presently she was carrying the specimens, and he was making the trips of investigation to see which was a cocoon and which a curled leaf, or he was on his knees digging around stumps.  As he worked he kept asking questions.  What kind of logs were best to look beside, what trees were pupae cases most likely to be under; on what bushes did caterpillars spin most frequently?  Time passed, as it always does when one’s occupation is absorbing.

When the Sintons took Mrs. Comstock home, they stopped to see Elnora.  She was not there.  Mrs. Comstock called at the edge of her woods and received no reply.  Then Wesley turned and drove back to the Limberlost.  He left Margaret and Mrs. Comstock holding the team and entertaining Billy, while he entered the swamp.

Elnora and Pete had made a wide trail behind them.  Before Sinton had thought of calling, he heard voices and approached with some caution.  Soon he saw Elnora, her flushed face beaming as she bent with an armload of twigs and branches and talked to a kneeling man.

“Now go cautiously!” she was saying.  “I am just sure we will find an Imperialis here.  It’s their very kind of a place.  There!  What did I tell you!  Isn’t that splendid?  Oh, I am so glad you came with me!”

Wesley stood staring in speechless astonishment, for the man had arisen, brushed the dirt from his hands, and held out to Elnora a small shining dark pupa case.  As his face came into view Sinton almost cried out, for he was the one man of all others Wesley knew with whom he most feared for Elnora’s safety.  She had him on his knees digging pupae cases for her from the swamp.

“Elnora!” called Sinton.  “Elnora!”

“Oh, Uncle Wesley!” cried the girl.  “See what luck we’ve had!  I know we have a dozen and a half cocoons and we have three pupae cases.  It’s much harder to get the cases because you have to dig for them, and you can’t see where to look.  But Pete is fine at it!  He’s found three, and he says he will keep watch beside the roads, and through the woods while he hunts.  Isn’t that splendid of him?  Uncle Wesley, there is a college over there on the western edge of the swamp.  Look closely, and you can see the great dome up among the clouds.”