He had come upon a low ridge of hard ground, away from the vast current and low, sodden shores of the Mississippi.

Here was a clean atmosphere, and the forest, the forest everywhere.

A mockingbird, perched on a bough almost over his head, began to pour forth his liquid song, and from another far away came the same song like an echo.

Dick looked up but he could not see the bird among the branches.

Nevertheless he waved his hand toward the place from which the melody came and gave a little trill in reply.
Then he said aloud: "It's a happy omen that you give me.