The Mouse On The Moon: eBook Edition (The Grand Fenwick Series 2) by Wibberley Leonard

Author:Wibberley, Leonard [Wibberley, Leonard]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: The Duchy of Grand Fenwick
Published: 2015-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER X

Amidst all the strenuous activity of preparing the Grand Fenwick rocket for launching, Dr. Kokintz still had time to keep up a vigorous correspondence with the Audubon Society and with bird lovers in many parts of the world on the subject of the two bobolinks which had taken up their residence in the forest of Grand Fenwick. He had sent to the society his pictures of the two birds, native to the northeastern coast of America, which had appeared in the Duchy; and the publication of these pictures in the journal of the society created a tremendous sensation.

A furore of speculation was immediately aroused over how the birds got to the Duchy, so far from their native habitat. It was well known to bird lovers that bobolinks migrate during the winter months to South America by way of the West Indies, but there was no case on record of a migration to Europe. A theory was advanced that a party of bobolinks, headed northward for New England and Southern Canada, had been swept off their course by a hurricane off the Florida coast, the survivors reaching Europe, and the Grand Fenwick bobolinks were of this party.

A hunt among bird watchers for other bobolinks in Europe was immediately instigated, but without conclusive results. One was reported in Sicily and three in the South of France, but no photographs were available. Then a rumor started that the whole thing was a hoax and that the Kokintz photographs had been taken not in Grand Fenwick but in the woodlands of Connecticut.

Kokintz was horrified by this suggestion. He was a simple man, almost childish; used to believing others and to being believed himself. He protested strongly against the hoax story and invited anyone who was interested to come to Grand Fenwick and see the bobolinks for themselves.

One day he received a letter from Berne, Switzerland, from a certain Mr. Maurice Spender. Mr. Spender said that he was an Englishman and a keen ornithologist and that he was prepared to produce letters from the highest authorities attesting to his lifelong interest in birds. He asked whether he might be permitted to come to Grand Fenwick and see the two bobolinks for himself, and take photographs of them.

"Why all the fuss about letters of recommendation?" asked Tully when Kokintz showed him this letter. "Anyone who wants is welcome to come here and see the bobolinks."

Kokintz shrugged. "It is the British," he said. "They are a very formal people. They have a horror of pretenders and like to have everything certified and authenticated. England is the only country in the world where it is a serious offense to wear the wrong tie, because it puts you in the position of masquerading as something you are not."

Tully nodded. "Write and tell him to come by all means," he said. "We can put him up at the castle. If he were coming a couple of months from now, we could even give him a hot bath. He might like to see the rocket while he is here.

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