remarkable. He showed no fear of the crabs, and darted around so
quickly that he caught every one in the room. The one-legged one that
Harvey had thrown out of the window was never found. Perhaps it made
its way back to the river, and told of its harrowing experiences on
land, and especially how it had lost its claw.

Fritz limped for several days after his experience with the crab and
Beth had a terrible nightmare that night in which crabs were giants
with claws of iron.




CHAPTER IV

Visiting

Beth was seated with Fritz and the kittens in a large Mexican hammock
on the front porch. She held up a warning finger to her mother who
stood in the doorway.

"Mamma, do not frighten birdie away. He is not the least bit afraid of
me, and I love to hear him sing."

Mrs. Davenport was surprised to see a mocking bird perched on the
railing directly by the side of Beth. His little head was cocked
sidewise, and floods of sweet sounds issued from his throat.

His spouse, who was guarding their nest up in the big live oak in the
front yard, trilled her limited paeon of praise.