How, I asked myself, should I ever find her in that wide forest while I moved about in that silent, cautious way?
My only hope was that she would find me.

It occurred to me that the most likely place to seek her would be some of the old haunts known to us both, where we had talked together.

I thought first of the mora tree, where she had hidden herself from me, and thither I directed my steps.

About this tree, and within its shade, I lingered for upwards of an hour; and, finally, casting my eyes up into the great dim cloud of green and purple leaves, I softly called: "Rima, Rima, if you have seen me, and have concealed yourself from me in your hiding-place, in mercy answer me--in mercy come down to me now!" But Rima answered not, nor threw down any red glowing leaves to mock me: only the wind, high up, whispered something low and sorrowful in the foliage; and turning, I wandered away at random into the deeper shadows.
By and by I was startled by the long, piercing cry of a wildfowl, sounding strangely loud in the silence; and no sooner was the air still again than it struck me that no bird had uttered that cry.

The Indian is a good mimic of animal voices, but practice had made me able to distinguish the true from the false bird-note.