And when the boys had got so near that they were on the point of
opening fire, he raised his heavy wings and soared aloft.

But as he rose into the air and looked down upon the toiling men
and the stupid boys, who stood gaping at him with a stone in each
hand, a great wrath seized the old bird.

He swooped down upon the boys like an eagle, and while his great
wings flounced about their ears, he shrieked in a terrible voice,
"Go to the devil!"

The boys gave a yell and threw themselves down upon the ground.
When they presently ventured to look up again, all was still and
deserted as before. Far away, a solitary blackbird winged to the
westward.

But till they grew to be men--aye, even to their dying day--they
were firmly convinced that the Evil One himself had appeared to
them out on the black morass, in the form of a monstrous black bird
with eyes of fire.

But it was only an old raven, flying westward to unearth a sow's
ear which it had buried.



"HOPE'S CLAD IN APRIL GREEN."

"You're kicking up the dust!" cried Cousin Hans.