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diff --git a/27951.txt b/27951.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f3f3f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/27951.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4170 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Policeman Bluejay, by L. Frank Baum, +Illustrated by Maginel Wright Enright + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Policeman Bluejay + + +Author: L. Frank Baum + + + +Release Date: January 31, 2009 [eBook #27951] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLICEMAN BLUEJAY*** + + +E-text prepared by Michael Gray (Lost_Gamer@comcast.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 27951-h.htm or 27951-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/9/5/27951/27951-h/27951-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/9/5/27951/27951-h.zip) + + + + + +POLICEMAN BLUEJAY + +by + +LAURA BANCROFT + +Author of +The Twinkle Tales, Etc. + +With Illustrations by Maginel Wright Enright + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: "GO, BOTH OF YOU, AND JOIN THE BIRD THAT WARNED YOU"] + + + +Chicago +The Reilly & Britton Co. +Publishers + +Copyright, 1907 +by +The Reilly & Britton Co. + +The Lakeside Press +R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company +Chicago + + + + +To the Children + +I MUST admit that the great success of the "TWINKLE TALES" has +astonished me as much as it has delighted the solemn-eyed, hard working +publishers. Therefore I have been encouraged to write a new "TWINKLE +BOOK," hoping with all my heart that my little friends will find it +worthy to occupy a place beside the others on their pet bookshelves. +And because the children seem to especially love the story of "Bandit +Jim Crow," and bird-life is sure to appeal alike to their hearts and +their imaginations, I have again written about birds. + +The tale is fantastical, and intended to amuse rather than instruct; +yet many of the traits of the feathered folk, herein described, are in +strict accordance with natural history teachings and will serve to +acquaint my readers with the habits of birds in their wildwood homes. +At the same time my birds do unexpected things, because I have written +a fairy tale and not a natural history. + +The question is often asked me whether Twinkle and Chubbins were asleep +or awake when they encountered these wonderful adventures; and it +grieves me to reflect that the modern child has been deprived of fairy +tales to such an extent that it does not know--as I did when a girl-- +that in a fairy story it does not matter whether one is awake or not. +You must accept it as you would a fragrant breeze that cools your brow, +a draught of sweet water, or the delicious flavor of a strawberry, and +be grateful for the pleasure it brings you, without stopping to +question too closely its source. + +For my part I am glad if my stories serve to while away a pleasant hour +before bedtime or keep one contented on a rainy day. In this way they +are sure to be useful, and if a little tenderness for the helpless +animals and birds is acquired with the amusement, the value of the +tales will be doubled. + +LAURA BANCROFT. + + +LIST OF CHAPTERS + +I LITTLE ONES IN TROUBLE +II POLICEMAN BLUEJAY +III THE CHILD-LARKS +IV AN AFTERNOON RECEPTION +V THE ORIOLE'S STORY +VI A MERRY ADVENTURE +VII THE BLUEJAY'S STORY +VIII MRS. HOOTAWAY +IX THE DESTROYERS +X IN THE EAGLE'S NEST +XI THE ORPHANS +XII THE GUARDIAN +XIII THE KING BIRD +XIV A REAL FAIRYLAND +XV THE LAKE OF DRY WATER +XVI THE BEAUTY DANCE +XVII THE QUEEN BEE +XVIII GOOD NEWS +XIX THE REBELS +XX THE BATTLE +XXI THE TINGLE-BERRIES +XXII THE TRANSFORMATION + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +"GO, BOTH OF YOU, AND JOIN THE BIRD THAT WARNED YOU" +THE MAN STOLE THE EGGS FROM THE NEST +THE TRIAL OF THE SHRIKE +"PEEP! PEEP! PEEP!" CRIED THE BABY GOLDFINCHES +SAILING ON THE DRY WATER +IN THE HONEY PALACE +THE BATTLE +"IT'S ALMOST DARK. LET'S GO HOME" + + +[CHAPTER I] _Little Ones in Trouble_ + +"SEEMS to me, Chub," said Twinkle, "that we're lost." + +"Seems to me, Twink," said Chubbins, "that it isn't _we_ that's lost. +It's the path." + +"It was here a minute ago," declared Twinkle. + +"But it isn't here now," replied the boy. + +"That's true," said the girl. + +It really _was_ queer. They had followed the straight path into the +great forest, and had only stopped for a moment to sit down and rest, +with the basket between them and their backs to a big tree. Twinkle +winked just twice, because she usually took a nap in the afternoon, and +Chubbins merely closed his eyes a second to find out if he could see +that long streak of sunshine through his pink eyelids. Yet during this +second, which happened while Twinkle was winking, the path had run away +and left them without any guide or any notion which way they ought to +go. + +Another strange thing was that when they jumped up to look around them +the nearest trees began sliding away, in a circle, leaving the little +girl and boy in a clear space. And the trees continued moving back and +back, farther and farther, until all their trunks were jammed tight +together, and not even a mouse could have crept between them. They made +a solid ring around Twinkle and Chubbins, who stood looking at this +transformation with wondering eyes. + +"It's a trap," said Chubbins; "and we're in it." + +"It looks that way," replied Twinkle, thoughtfully. "Isn't it lucky, +Chub, we have the basket with us? If it wasn't for that, we might +starve to death in our prison." + +"Oh, well," replied the little fellow, "the basket won't last long. +There's plenty of starve in the bottom of it, Twinkle, any way you can +fix it." + +"That's so; unless we can get out. Whatever do you suppose made the +trees behave that way, Chubbins? + +"Don't know," said the boy. + +Just then a queer creature dropped from a tree into the ring and began +moving slowly toward them. It was flat in shape, like a big turtle; +only it hadn't a turtle's hard shell. Instead, its body was covered +with sharp prickers, like rose thorns, and it had two small red eyes +that looked cruel and wicked. The children could not see how many legs +it had, but they must have been very short, because the creature moved +so slowly over the ground. + +When it had drawn near to them it said, in a pleading tone that sounded +soft and rather musical: + +"Little girl, pick me up in your arms, and pet me!" + +Twinkle shrank back. + +"My! I couldn't _think_ of doing such a thing," she answered. + +Then the creature said: + +"Little boy, please pick me up in your arms, and pet me!" + +"Go 'way!" shouted Chubbins. "I wouldn't touch you for anything." + +The creature turned its red eyes first upon one and then upon the +other. + +"Listen, my dears," it continued; "I was once a beautiful maiden, but a +cruel tuxix transformed me into this awful shape, and so must I remain +until some child willingly takes me in its arms and pets me. Then, and +not till then, will I be restored to my proper form." + +"Don't believe it! Don't believe it!" cried a high, clear voice, and +both the boy and the girl looked quickly around to see who had spoken. +But no one besides themselves was in sight, and they only noticed a +thick branch of one of the trees slightly swaying its leaves. + +"What is a tuxix?" asked Twinkle, who was beginning to feel sorry for +the poor creature. + +"It is a magician, a sorcerer, a wizard, and a witch all rolled into +one," was the answer; "and you can imagine what a dreadful thing that +would be." + +"Be careful!" cried the clear voice, again. "It is the tuxix herself +who is talking to you. Don't believe a word you hear!" + +At this the red eyes of the creature flashed fire with anger, and it +tried to turn its clumsy body around to find the speaker. Twinkle and +Chubbins looked too, but only heard a flutter and a mocking laugh +coming from the trees. + +"If I get my eye on that bird, it will never speak again," exclaimed +the creature, in a voice of fury very different from the sweet tones it +had at first used; and perhaps it was this fact that induced the +children to believe the warning was from a friend, and they would do +well to heed it. + +"Whether you are the tuxix or not," said Twinkle, "I never will touch +you. You may be sure of that." + +"Nor I," declared Chubbins, stoutly, as he came closer to the girl and +grasped her hand in his own. + +At this the horrid thing bristled all its sharp prickers in anger, and +said: + +"Then, if I cannot conquer you in one way, I will in another. Go, both +of you, and join the bird that warned you, and live in the air and the +trees until you repent your stubbornness and promise to become my +slaves. The tuxix has spoken, and her magical powers are at work. Go!" + +In an instant Twinkle saw Chubbins shoot through the air and disappear +among the leaves of one of the tall trees. As he went he seemed to grow +very small, and to change in shape. + +"Wait!" she cried. "I'm coming, too!" + +She was afraid of losing Chubbins, so she flew after him, feeling +rather queer herself, and a moment after was safe in the tall tree, +clinging with her toes to a branch and looking in amazement at the boy +who sat beside her. + +Chubbins had been transformed into a pretty little bird--all, that is, +except his head, which was Chubbins' own head reduced in size to fit +the bird body. It still had upon it the straw hat, which had also grown +small in size, and the sight that met Twinkle's eyes was so funny that +she laughed merrily, and her laugh was like the sweet warbling of a +skylark. + +Chubbins looked at her and saw almost what she saw; for Twinkle was a +bird too, except for her head, with its checked sunbonnet, which had +grown small enough to fit the pretty, glossy-feathered body of a lark. + +Both of them had to cling fast to the branch with their toes, for their +arms and hands were now wings. The toes were long and sharp pointed, so +that they could be used in the place of fingers. + +"My!" exclaimed Twinkle; "you're a queer sight, Chubbins!" + +"So are you," answered the boy. "That mean old thing must have 'witched +us." + +"Yes, we're 'chanted," said Twinkle. "And now, what are we going to do +about it? We can't go home, for our folks would be scared nearly into +fits. And we don't know the way home, either." + +"That's so," said Chubbins, fluttering his little wings to keep from +falling, for he had nearly lost his balance. + +"What shall we do?" she continued. + +"Why, fly around and be gay and happy," said a clear and merry voice +beside them. "That's what birds are expected to do!" + + + +[CHAPTER II] _The Forest Guardian_ + +Twinkle and Chubbins twisted their heads around on their little +feathered necks and saw perched beside them a big bird of a most +beautiful blue color. At first they were a bit frightened, for the +newcomer seemed of giant size beside their little lark bodies, and he +was, moreover, quite fierce in appearance, having a crest of feathers +that came to a point above his head, and a strong beak and sharp +talons. But Twinkle looked full into the shrewd, bright eye, and found +it good humored and twinkling; so she plucked up courage and asked: + +"Were you speaking to us?" + +"Very likely," replied the blue bird, in a cheerful tone. "There's no +one else around to speak to." + +"And was it you who warned us against that dreadful creature below in +the forest?" she continued. + +"It was." + +"Then," said Twinkle, "we are very much obliged to you." + +"Don't mention it," said the other. "I'm the forest policeman-- +Policeman Bluejay, you know--and it's my duty to look after everyone +who is in trouble." + +"We're in trouble, all right," said Chubbins, sorrowfully. + +"Well, it might have been worse," remarked Policeman Bluejay, making a +chuckling sound in his throat that Twinkle thought was meant for a +laugh. "If you had ever touched the old tuxix she would have +transformed you into toads or lizards. That is an old trick of hers, to +get children into her power and then change them into things as +loathsome as herself." + +"I wouldn't have touched her, anyhow," said Twinkle. + +"Nor I!" cried Chubbins, in his shrill, bird-like voice. "She wasn't +nice." + +"Still, it was good of you to warn us," Twinkle added, sweetly. + +The Bluejay looked upon the fluttering little things with kind +approval. Then he laughed outright. + +"What has happened to your heads?" he asked. + +"Nothing, 'cept they're smaller," replied Chubbins. + +"But birds shouldn't have human heads," retorted the bluejay. "I +suppose the old tuxix did that so the birds would not admit you into +their society, for you are neither all bird nor all human. But never +mind; I'll explain your case, and you may be sure all the birds of the +forest will be kind to you." + +"Must we stay like this always?" asked Twinkle, anxiously. + +"I really can't say," answered the policeman. "There is said to be a +way to break every enchantment, if one knows what it is. The trouble in +these cases is to discover what the charm may be that will restore you +to your natural shapes. But just now you must make up your minds to +live in our forest for a time, and to be as happy as you can under the +circumstances." + +"Well, we'll try," said Chubbins, with a sigh. + +"That's right," exclaimed Policeman Bluejay, nodding his crest in +approval. "The first thing you must have is a house; so, if you will +fly with me, I will try to find you one." + +"I--I'm afraid!" said Twinkle, nervously. + +"The larks," declared the bluejay, "are almost the strongest and best +flyers we have. You two children have now become skylarks, and may soar +so high in the air that you can scarcely see the earth below you. For +that reason you need have no fear whatever. Be bold and brave, and all +will be well." + +He spoke in such a kindly and confident voice that both Twinkle and +Chubbins gained courage; and when the policeman added: "Come on!" and +flew straight as an arrow into the air above the tree-tops, the two +little skylarks with their girl and boy heads followed swiftly after +him, and had no trouble in going just as fast as their conductor. + +It was quite a pleasant and interesting experience, to dart through the +air and be in no danger of falling. When they rested on their +outstretched wings they floated as lightly as bubbles, and soon a +joyous thrill took possession of them and they began to understand why +it is that the free, wild birds are always so happy in their native +state. + +The forest was everywhere under them, for it was of vast extent. +Presently the bluejay swooped downward and alighted near the top of a +tall maple tree that had many thick branches. + +In a second Twinkle and Chubbins were beside him, their little hearts +beating fast in their glossy bosoms from the excitement of their rapid +flight. Just in front of them, firmly fastened to a crotch of a limb, +was a neatly built nest of a gray color, lined inside with some soft +substance that was as smooth as satin. + +"Here," said their thoughtful friend, "is the nest that Niddie Thrush +and Daisy Thrush built for themselves a year ago. They have now gone to +live in a wood across the big river, so you are welcome to their old +home. It is almost as good as new, and there is no rent to pay." + +"It's awfully small!" said Chubbins. + +"Chut-chut!" twittered Policeman Bluejay. "Remember you are not +children now, but skylarks, and that this is a thrush's nest. Try it, +and you are sure to find it will fit you exactly." + +So Twinkle and Chubbins flew into the "house" and nestled their bodies +against its soft lining and found that their friend was right. When +they were cuddled together, with their slender legs tucked into the +feathers of their breasts, they just filled the nest to the brim, and +no more room was necessary. + +"Now, I'll mark the nest for you, so that everyone will know you claim +it," said the policeman; and with his bill he pecked a row of small +dots in the bark of the limb, just beside the nest. "I hope you will be +very happy here, and this afternoon I will bring some friends to meet +you. So now good-bye until I see you again." + +"Wait!" cried Chubbins. "What are we going to eat?" + +"Eat!" answered the bluejay, as if surprised. "Why, you may feast upon +all the good things the forest offers--grubs, beetles, worms, and +butterfly-eggs." + +"Ugh!" gasped Chubbins. "It makes me sick to just think of it." + +"What!" + +"You see," said Twinkle, "we are not _all_ birds, Mr. Bluejay, as you +are; and that makes a big difference. We have no bills to pick up the +things that birds like to eat, and we do not care for the same sort of +food, either." + +"What _do_ you care for?" asked the policeman, in a puzzled voice. + +"Why, cake and sandwitches, and pickles, and cheese, such as we had in +our basket. We couldn't _eat_ any live things, you see, because we are +not used to it." + +The bluejay became thoughtful. + +"I understand your objection," he said, "and perhaps you are right, not +having good bird sense because the brains in your heads are still human +brains. Let me see: what can I do to help you?" + +The children did not speak, but watched him anxiously. + +"Where did you leave your basket?" he finally asked. + +"In the place where the old witch 'chanted us." + +"Then," said the officer of the forest, "I must try to get it for you." + +"It is too big and heavy for a bird to carry," suggested Twinkle. + +"Sure enough. Of course. That's a fact." He turned his crested head +upward, trying to think of a way, and saw a black speck moving across +the sky. + +"Wait a minute! I'll be back," he called, and darted upward like a +flash. + +The children watched him mount into the sky toward the black speck, and +heard his voice crying out in sharp, quick notes. And before long +Policeman Bluejay attracted the other bird's attention, causing it to +pause in its flight and sink slowly downward until the two drew close +together. + +Then it was seen that the other bird was a great eagle, strong and +sharp-eyed, and with broad wings that spread at least six feet from tip +to tip. + +"Good day, friend eagle," said the bluejay; "I hope you are in no +hurry, for I want to ask you to do me a great favor." + +"What is it?" asked the eagle, in a big, deep voice. + +"Please go to a part of the forest with me and carry a basket to some +friends of mine. I'll show you the way. It is too heavy for me to lift, +but with your great strength you can do it easily." + +"It will give me pleasure to so favor you," replied the eagle, +politely; so Policeman Bluejay led the way and the eagle followed with +such mighty strokes of its wings that the air was sent whirling in +little eddies behind him, as the water is churned by a steamer's +paddles. + +It was not very long before they reached the clearing in the forest. +The horrid tuxix had wriggled her evil body away, to soothe her +disappointment by some other wicked act; but the basket stood as the +children had left it. + +The eagle seized the handle in his stout beak and found it was no +trouble at all for him to fly into the air and carry the basket with +him. + +"This way, please--this way!" chirped the bluejay; and the eagle bore +the precious burden safely to the maple tree, and hung it upon a limb +just above the nest. + +As he approached he made such a fierce fluttering that Twinkle and +Chubbins were dreadfully scared and flew out of their nest, hopping +from limb to limb until they were well out of the monstrous bird's way. +But when they saw the basket, and realized the eagle's kindly act, they +flew toward him and thanked him very earnestly for his assistance. + +"Goodness me!" exclaimed the eagle, turning his head first on one side +and then on the other, that both his bright eyes might observe the +child-larks; "what curious creatures have you here, my good policeman?" + +"Why, it is another trick of old Hautau, the tuxix. She found two +children in the forest and enchanted them. She wanted to make them +toads, but they wouldn't touch her, so she couldn't. Then she got +herself into a fine rage and made the little dears half birds and half +children, as you see them. I was in a tree near by, and saw the whole +thing. Because I was sorry for the innocent victims I befriended them, +and as this basket belongs to them I have asked you to fetch it to +their nest." + +"I am glad to be of service," replied the eagle. "If ever you need me, +and I am anywhere around," he continued, addressing the larks, "just +call me, and I will come at once." + +"Thank you," said Twinkle, gratefully. + +"We're much obliged," added Chubbins. + +Then the eagle flew away, and when he was gone Policeman Bluejay also +bade them good-bye. + +"I'll be back this afternoon, without fail," he said. "Just now I must +go and look over the forest, and make sure none of the birds have been +in mischief during my absence. Do not go very far from your nest, for a +time, or you may get lost. The forest is a big place; but when you are +more used to it and to your new condition you can be more bold in +venturing abroad." + +"We won't leave this tree," promised Twinkle, in an earnest voice. + +And Chubbins chimed in with, "That's right; we won't leave this tree +until you come back." + +"Good-bye," said the policeman. + +"Good-bye," responded Twinkle and Chubbins. + +So the bluejay darted away and was soon lost to sight, and Twinkle and +Chubbins were left alone to seriously consider the great misfortune +that had overtaken them. + + + +[CHAPTER III] _The Child-Larks_ + +"Folks will be worried about us, Twink," said Chubbins. + +"'Course they will," Twinkle replied. "They'll wonder what has become +of us, and try to find us." + +"But they won't look in the tree-tops." + +"No." + +"Nor think to ask the birds where we are." + +"Why should they?" enquired Twinkle. "They can't talk to the birds, +Chub." + +"Why not? We talk to them, don't we? And they talk to us. At least, the +p'liceman and the eagle did." + +"That's true," answered Twinkle, "and I don't understand it a bit. I +must ask Mr. Bluejay to 'splain it to us." + +"What's the use of a p'liceman in the forest?" asked Chubbins, after a +moment's thought. + +"I suppose," she replied, "that he has to keep the birds from being +naughty. Some birds are just awful mischiefs, Chub. There's the +magpies, you know, that steal; and the crows that fight; and the +jackdaws that are saucy, and lots of others that get into trouble. +Seems to me P'liceman Bluejay's a pretty busy bird, if he looks after +things as he ought." + +"Prob'ly he's got his hands full," said Chubbins. + +"Not that; for he hasn't any hands, any more than we have. Perhaps you +ought to say he's got his wings full," suggested Twinkle. + +"That reminds me I'm hungry," chirped the boy-lark. + +"Well, we've got the basket," she replied. + +"But how can we eat cake and things, witched up as we are?" + +"Haven't we mouths and teeth, just the same as ever?" + +"Yes, but we haven't any hands, and there's a cloth tied over the top +of the basket." + +"Dear me!" exclaimed Twinkle; "I hadn't thought of that." + +They flew together to the basket and perched upon the edge of it. It +seemed astonishingly big to them, now that they were so small; but +Chubbins remarked that this fact was a pleasant one, for instead of +eating all the good things the basket contained at one meal, as they +had at first intended, it would furnish them with food for many days to +come. + +But how to get into the basket was the thing to be considered just now. +They fluttered around on every side of it, and finally found a small +place where the cloth was loose. In a minute Chubbins began clawing at +it with his little feet, and Twinkle helped him; so that gradually they +managed to pull the cloth away far enough for one of them to crawl +through the opening. Then the other followed, and because the big +basket was not quite full there was exactly room for them to stand +underneath the cloth and walk around on top of a row of cookies that +lay next to a row of sandwiches. + +The cookies seemed enormous. One was lying flat, and Chubbins declared +it seemed as big around as the dining-table at home. + +"All the better for us," said Twinkle, bending her head down to nibble +at the edge of the cookie. + +"If we're going to be birds," said Chubbins, who was also busily eating +as best he could, "we ought to be reg'lar birds, and have bills to peck +with. This being half one thing and half another doesn't suit me at +all." + +"The witch wasn't trying to suit us," replied Twinkle; "she was trying +to get us into trouble." + +"Well, she did it, all right," he said. + +It was not so hard to eat as they had feared, for their slender necks +enabled them to bend their heads low. Chubbins' hat fell off, a minute +later, and he wondered how he was going to get it on his head again. + +"Can't you stand on one foot, and use the other foot like a hand?" +asked Twinkle. + +"I don't know," said he. + +"The storks stand on one leg," continued the girl. "I've seen 'em in +pictures." + +So Chubbins tried it, and found he could balance his little body on one +leg very nicely. For if he toppled either way he had but to spread his +wings and tail feathers and so keep himself from falling. He picked up +his hat with the claws of his other foot and managed to put it on by +ducking his head. + +This gave the boy-lark a new idea. He broke off a piece of the cookie +and held it in his claw while he ate it; and seeing his success Twinkle +followed his example, and after a few attempts found she could eat very +comfortably in that way. + +Having had their luncheon--and it amazed Chubbins to see how very +little was required to satisfy their hunger--the bird-children crept +out of the basket and flew down to the twig beside their nest. + +"Hello!" cried a strange voice. "Newcomers, eh?" + +They were so startled that they fluttered a moment to keep from +tumbling off the limb. Then Twinkle saw a furry red head sticking out +of a small hollow in the trunk of the tree. The head had two round +black eyes, an inquisitive nose, a wide mouth with sharp teeth and +whiskers like those of a cat. It seemed as big as the moon to the shy +little child-larks, until it occurred to the girl that the strange +creature must be a squirrel. + +"You--you scared us!" she said, timidly. + +"You scared _me,_ at first," returned the squirrel, in a comic tone. +"Dear me! how came you birds to have children's heads?" + +"That isn't the way to put it," remarked Chubbins, staring back into +the eyes of the squirrel. "You should ask how we children happened to +have birds' bodies." + +"Very well; put the conundrum that way, if you like," said the +squirrel. "What is the answer?" + +"We are enchanted," replied Twinkle. + +"Ah. The tuxix?" + +"Yes. We were caught in the forest, and she bewitched us." + +"That is too bad," said their new acquaintance. "She is a very wicked +old creature, for a fact, and loves to get folks into trouble. Are you +going to live here?" + +"Yes," answered the girl. "Policeman Bluejay gave us this nest." + +"Then it's all right; for Policeman Bluejay rules the feathered tribes +of this forest about as he likes. Have you seen him in full uniform +yet?" + +"No," they replied, "unless his feathers are his uniform." + +"Well, he's too proud of his office to be satisfied with feathers, I +can tell you. When some folks get a little authority they want all the +world to know about it, and a bold uniform covers many a faint heart. +But as I'm your nearest neighbor I'll introduce myself. My name's +Wisk." + +"My name is Twinkle." + +"And mine's Chubbins." + +"Pleased to make your acquaintance," said the squirrel, nodding. "I +live in the second flat." + +"How's that?" asked the boy. + +"Why, the second hollow, you know. There's a 'possum living in the +hollow down below, who is carrying four babies around in her pocket; +and Mrs. Hootaway, the gray owl, lives in the hollow above--the one you +can see far over your heads. So I'm the second flat tenant." + +"I see," said Twinkle. + +"Early in the morning the 'possum comes growling home to go to bed; +late at night the owl hoots and keeps folks awake; but I'm very quiet +and well behaved, and you'll find me a good neighbor," continued Wisk. + +"I'm sure of that," said Chubbins. + +As if to prove his friendship the squirrel now darted out of the hollow +and sat upon a limb beside the children, holding his bushy tail +straight up so that it stood above his head like a big plume in a +soldier's helmet. + +"Are you hungry?" asked the girl. + +"Not very. I cannot get much food until the nuts are ripe, you know, +and my last winter's supply was gone long ago. But I manage to find +some bits to eat, here and there." + +"Do you like cookies?" she asked. + +"I really do not know," answered Wisk. "Where do they grow?" + +"In baskets. I'll get you a piece, and you can try it." So Twinkle flew +up and crept into her basket again, quickly returning with a bit of +cookie in her claw. It was not much more than a crumb, but nevertheless +it was all that she could carry. + +The squirrel seized the morsel in his paws, examined it gravely, and +then took a nibble. An instant later it was gone. + +"That is very good, indeed!" he declared. "Where do these baskets of +cookies grow?" + +"They don't grow anywhere," replied Twinkle, with a laugh. "The baskets +come from the grocery store, and my mama makes the cookies." + +"Oh; they're human food, then." + +"Yes; would you like some more?" + +"Not just now," said Wisk. "I don't want to rob you, and it is foolish +to eat more than one needs, just because the food tastes good. But if I +get very hungry, perhaps I'll ask you for another bite." + +"Do," said the girl. "You are welcome to what we have, as long as it +lasts." + +"That is very kind of you," returned the squirrel. + +They sat and talked for an hour, and Wisk told them stories of the +forest, and of the many queer animals and birds that lived there. It +was all very interesting to the children, and they listened eagerly +until they heard a rushing sound in the air that sent Wisk scurrying +back into his hole. + + + +[CHAPTER IV] _An Afternoon Reception_ + +Twinkle and Chubbins stretched their little necks to see what was +coming, and a moment later beheld one of the most gorgeous sights the +forest affords--a procession of all the bright-hued birds that live +among the trees or seek them for shelter. + +They flew in pairs, one after the other, and at the head of the +procession was their good friend Policeman Bluejay, wearing a +policeman's helmet upon his head and having a policeman's club tucked +underneath his left wing. The helmet was black and glossy and had a big +number "1" on the front of it, and a strap that passed under the +wearer's bill and held it firmly in place. The club was fastened around +the policeman's wing with a cord, so that it could not get away when he +was flying. + +The birds were of many sizes and of various colorings. Some were much +larger than the bluejay, but none seemed so proud or masterful, and all +deferred meekly to the commands of the acknowledged guardian of the +forest. + +One by one the pretty creatures alighted upon the limbs of the tree, +and the first thing they all did was to arrange their feathers properly +after their rapid flight. Then the bluejay, who sat next to the +child-larks, proceeded to introduce the guests he had brought to call +upon the newest inhabitants of his domain. + +"This is Mr. and Mrs. Robin Redbreast, one of our most aristocratic +families," said he, swinging his club around in a circle until Chubbins +ducked his head for fear it might hit him. + +"You are welcome to our forest," chirped Robin, in a sedate and +dignified tone. + +"And here is Mr. Goldfinch and his charming bride," continued the +policeman. + +"Ah, it is a pleasure to meet you," the goldfinch murmured, eyeing the +child-larks curiously, but trying to be so polite that they would not +notice his staring. + +"Henny Wren and Jenny Wren," proceeded the policeman. + +Twinkle and Chubbins both bowed politely. + +"Well, well!" croaked a raven, in a hoarse voice, "am I to wait all day +while you introduce those miserable little insignificant grub-eaters?" + +"Be quiet!" cried Policeman Bluejay, sternly. + +"I won't," snapped the raven. + +It happened so quickly that the children saw nothing before they heard +the thump of the club against the raven's head. + +"Caw--waw--waw--waw! Murder! Help!" screamed the big bird, and flew +away from the tree as swiftly as his ragged wings would carry him. + +"Let him go," said a sweet brown mocking-bird. "The rowdy is always +disturbing our social gatherings, and no one will miss him if he +doesn't come back." + +"He is not fit for polite society," added a nuthatcher, pruning her +scarlet wings complacently. + +So the policeman tucked the club under his wing again and proceeded +with the introductions, the pewees and the linnets being next presented +to the strangers, and then the comical little chicadees, the orioles, +bobolinks, thrushes, starlings and whippoorwills, the latter appearing +sleepy because, they explained, they had been out late the night +before. + +These smaller birds all sat in rows on the limbs beside Twinkle and +Chubbins; but seated upon the stouter limbs facing them were rows of +bigger birds who made the child-larks nervous by the sharp glances from +their round, bright eyes. Here were blackbirds, cuckoos, magpies, +grosbeaks and wood-pigeons, all nearly as big and fierce-looking as +Policeman Bluejay himself, and some so rugged and strong that it seemed +strange they would submit to the orders of the officer of the law. But +the policeman kept a sharp watch upon these birds, to see that they +attempted no mischievous pranks, and they must have been afraid of him +because they behaved very well after the saucy raven had left them. +Even the chattering magpies tried to restrain their busy tongues, and +the blackbirds indulged in no worse pranks than to suddenly spread +their wings and try to push the pigeons off the branch. + +Several beautiful humming-birds were poised in the air above this +gathering, their bodies being motionless but their tiny wings +fluttering so swiftly that neither Twinkle nor Chubbins could see them +at all. + +Policeman Bluejay, having finally introduced all the company to the +child-larks, began to relate the story of their adventures, telling the +birds how the wicked tuxix had transformed them into the remarkable +shapes they now possessed. + +"For the honor of our race," he said, "we must each and every one guard +these little strangers carefully, and see that they come to no harm in +our forest. You must all pledge yourselves to befriend them on all +occasions, and if any one dares to break his promise he must fight with +me to the death--and you know very well what that means." + +"We do," said a magpie, with a shrill laugh. "You'll treat us as you +did Jim Crow. Eh?" + +The policeman did not notice this remark, but the other birds all +looked grave and thoughtful, and began in turn to promise that they +would take care to befriend the child-larks at all times. This ceremony +having been completed, the birds began to converse in a more friendly +and easy tone, so that Twinkle and Chubbins soon ceased to be afraid of +them, and enjoyed very much their society and friendly chatter. + + + +[CHAPTER V] _The Oriole's Story_ + +"We are really very happy in this forest," said an oriole that sat next +to Twinkle, "and we would have no fears at all did not the men with +guns, who are called hunters, come here now and then to murder us. They +are terribly wild and ferocious creatures, who have no hearts at all." + +"Oh, they _must_ have hearts," said Twinkle, "else they couldn't live. +For one's heart has to beat to keep a person alive, you know." + +"Perhaps it's their gizzards that beat," replied the oriole, +reflectively, "for they are certainly heartless and very wicked. A +cousin of mine, Susie Oriole, had a very brave and handsome husband. +They built a pretty nest together and Susie laid four eggs in it that +were so perfect that she was very proud of them. + +"The eggs were nearly ready to hatch when a great man appeared in the +forest and discovered Susie's nest. Her brave husband fought +desperately to protect their home, but the cruel man shot him, and he +fell to the ground dead. Even then Susie would not leave her pretty +eggs, and when the man climbed the tree to get them she screamed and +tried to peck out his eyes. Usually we orioles are very timid, you +know; so you can well understand how terrified Susie was to fight +against this giant foe. But he had a club in his hand, with which he +dealt my poor cousin such a dreadful blow that she was sent whirling +through the air and sank half unconscious into a bush a few yards away. + +"After this the man stole the eggs from the nest, and also picked up +the dead body of Susie's husband and carried it away with him. Susie +recovered somewhat from the blow she had received, and when she saw her +eggs and her poor dead husband being taken away, she managed to flutter +along after the man and followed him until he came to the edge of the +forest. There he had a horse tied to a tree, and he mounted upon the +beast's back and rode away through the open country. Susie followed +him, just far enough away to keep the man in sight, without being +noticed herself. + +"By and bye he came to a big house, which he entered, closing the door +behind him. Susie flew into a tree beside the house and waited +sorrowfully but in patience for a chance to find her precious ones +again. + +"The days passed drearily away, one after another, but in about a week +my cousin noticed that one of the windows of the house had been left +open. So she boldly left her tree and flew in at the window, and +luckily none of the people who lived in the house happened to be in the +room. + +"Imagine Susie's surprise when she saw around the sides of the room +many birds sitting silently upon limbs cut from trees, and among them +her own husband, as proud and beautiful as he had ever been before the +cruel man had killed him! She quickly flew to the limb and perched +beside her loved one. + +"'Oh, my darling!' she cried, 'how glad I am to have found you again, +and to see you alive and well when I had mourned you as dead. Come with +me at once, and we will return to our old home in the forest.' + +"But the bird remained motionless and made no reply to her loving +words. She thrust her bill beside his and tried to kiss him, but he did +not respond to the caress and his body was stiff and cold. + +"Then Susie uttered a cry of grief, and understood the truth. Her +husband was indeed dead, but had been stuffed and mounted upon the limb +to appear as he had in life. Small wires had been pushed through his +legs to make his poor body stand up straight, and to Susie's horror she +discovered that his eyes were only bits of glass! All the other birds +in the room were stuffed in the same way. They looked as if they were +alive, at the first glance; but each body was cold and every voice +mute. They were mere mockeries of the beautiful birds that this +heartless and cruel man had deprived of their joyous lives. + +"Susie's loving heart was nearly bursting with pain as she slowly +fluttered toward the open window by which she had entered. But on her +way a new anguish overtook her, for she noticed a big glass case +against the wall in which were arranged clusters of eggs stolen from +birds of almost every kind. Yes; there were her own lovely eggs, +scarcely an inch from her face, but separated from her by a stout glass +that could not be broken, although she madly dashed her body against it +again and again. + +"Finally, realizing her helplessness, poor Susie left the room by the +open window and flew back to the forest, where she told us all the +terrible thing she had seen. No one was able to comfort her, for her +loving heart was broken; and after that she would often fly away to the +house to peer through the window at her eggs and her beautiful husband. + +"One day she did not return, and after waiting for her nearly two weeks +we sent the bluejay to see what had become of her. Our policeman found +the house, and also found the window of the room open. + +"He boldly entered, and discovered Susie and her husband sitting side +by side upon the dried limb, their bodies both stiff and dead. The man +had caught the poor wife at last, and the lovers were reunited in +death. + +"Also Policeman Bluejay found his grandfather's mummy in this room, and +the stuffed mummies of many other friends he had known in the forest. +So he was very sorrowful when he returned to us, and from that time we +have feared the heartless men more than ever." + +"It's a sad story," sighed Twinkle, "and I've no doubt it is a true +one. But all men are not so bad, I'm sure." + +"All men who enter the forest are," answered the oriole, positively. +"For they only come here to murder and destroy those who are helpless +before their power, but have never harmed them in the least. If God +loves the birds, as I am sure He does, why do you suppose He made their +ferocious enemies, the men?" + +Twinkle did not reply, but she felt a little ashamed. + + + +[CHAPTER VI] _A Merry Adventure_ + +"Talking about men," said the cuckoo, in a harsh but not very +unpleasant voice, "reminds me of a funny adventure I once had myself. I +was sitting in my nest one day, at the time when I was quite young, +when suddenly a man appeared before me. You must know that this nest, +which was rather carelessly built by my mother, was in a thick +evergreen tree, and not very high from the ground; so that I found the +man's eyes staring squarely into my own. + +"Most of you, my dears, have seen men; but this was the strangest sort +of man you can imagine. There was white hair upon his face, so long +that it hung down to his middle, and over his eyes were round plates +of glass that glittered very curiously. I was so astonished at seeing +the queer creature that I sat still and stared, and this was my +undoing. For suddenly there came a rapid 'whish!' through the air, and +a network of cords fell all around and over me. Then, indeed, I spread +my wings and attempted to fly; but it was too late. I struggled in the +net without avail, and soon gave up the conflict in breathless despair. + +"My captor did not intend to kill me, however. Instead, he tried to +soothe my fright, and carried me very gently for many, many miles, +until we came to a village of houses. Here, at the very top of a high +house, the man lived in one little room. It was all littered with tools +and bits of wood, and on a broad shelf were several queer things that +went 'tick-tock! tick-tock!' every minute. I was thrust, gently enough, +into a wooden cage, where I lay upon the bottom more dead than alive +because the ticking things at first scared me dreadfully and I was in +constant terror lest I should be tortured or killed. But the glass-eyed +old man brought me dainty things to eat, and plenty of fresh water to +relieve my thirst, and by the next day my heart had stopped going +pitty-pat and I was calm enough to stand up in my cage and look around +me. + +"My white-whiskered captor sat at a bench with his coat off and his +bald head bare, while he worked away busily putting little wheels and +springs together, and fitting them into a case of wood. When one of +them was finished it would sing 'tick-tock! tick-tock!' just like the +other queer things on the shelf, and this constant ticking so +interested me that I raised my head and called: + +"'Cuck-oo! cuck-oo!'" + +"'That's it!' cried the old man, delightedly. 'That's what I wanted to +hear. It's the real cuckoo at last, and not a bit like those cheap +imitations.' + +"I didn't understand at first what he meant, but he worked at his bench +all day, and finally brought to my cage a bird made out of wood, that +was carved and painted to look just as I was. It seemed so natural that +I flapped my wings and called 'cuck-oo' to it, and the man pressed a +little bellows at the bottom of the bird and made it say 'cuck-oo!' in +return. But that cry was so false and unreal that I just shouted with +laughter, and the glass-eyed old man shook his head sadly and said: +'That will never do. That will never do in the world.' + +"So all the next day he worked hard trying to make his wooden bird say +'cuck-oo!' in the proper way; and at last it really spoke quite +naturally, so that it startled even me when I heard it. This seemed to +please my captor very much; so he put it inside one of the ticking +things on the shelf, and by-and-by a door opened and the wooden bird +jumped out and cried 'Cuck-oo! Cuck-oo! Cuck-oo!' and then jumped back +again and the door closed with a snap. + +"'Bravo!' cried old white-hair; but I was rather annoyed, for I thought +the wooden bird was impudent in trying to ape the ways of live cuckoos. +I shouted back a challenge to it, but there was no reply. An hour +later, and every hour, it repeated the performance, but jumped behind +the door when I offered to fight it. + +"The next day the man was absent from the room, and I had nothing to +eat. So I became angry and uneasy. I scratched away at the wooden bars +of my cage and tried to twist them with my beak, and at last one of +them, to my great joy, came loose, and I was able to squeeze myself out +of the cage. + +"But then I was no better off than before, because the windows and the +door of the room were fast shut. I grew more cross and ill-tempered +than before, when I discovered this, and to add to my annoyance that +miserable wooden bird would every once in awhile jump out and yell +'Cuck-oo!' and then bounce back into its house again, without daring to +argue with me. + +"This at last made me frantic with rage, and I resolved to be revenged. +The next time the wooden bird made its appearance I new upon it in a +flash and knocked it off the little platform before it had uttered its +cry more than twice. It fell upon the floor and broke one of its wings; +but in an instant I dashed myself upon it and bit and scratched the +impudent thing until there was not a bit of paint left upon it. Its +head came off, too, and so did its legs and the other wing, and before +I was done with it no one ever would have known it was once a clever +imitation of myself. Finding that I was victorious I cried 'Cuck-oo!' +in triumph, and just then the little door of the ticking thing opened +and the platform where the wooden bird had stood came out of it and +remained for a time motionless. I quickly flew up and perched upon it, +and shouted 'Cuck-oo!' again, in great glee. As I did so, to my +amazement the platform on which I stood leaped backward, carrying me +with it, and the next instant the door closed with a snap and I found +myself in darkness. + +"Wildly I fluttered my wings; but it was of no use. I was in a prison +much worse than the cage, and so small that I could hardly turn around +in it. I was about to die of terror and despair when I chanced to +remember that at certain times the door would open to push out the bird +and allow it to say 'Cuck-oo!' before it shut again. So, the next time +it opened in this way, I would be able to make my escape. + +"Very patiently I waited in the dark little hole, listening to the +steady 'tick-tock!' of the machinery behind me and trying not to be +nervous. After awhile I heard the old man come into the room and +exclaim sorrowfully because his captive cuckoo had escaped from its +cage. He could not imagine what had become of me, and I kept still and +laughed to myself to think how I would presently surprise him. + +"It seemed an age before I finally heard the click that opened the door +in front of me. Then the platform on which I sat sprang out, and I +fluttered my wings and yelled 'Cuck-oo! Cuck-oo!' as loud as I could. +The old man was standing right in front of me, his mouth wide open with +astonishment at the wonderfully natural performance of his wooden bird, +as he thought me. He shouted 'Bravo!' again, and clapped his hands; and +at that I flew straight into his face, and clawed his white hair with +all my might, and screamed as loud as I could. + +"He screamed, too, being taken by surprise, and tumbled over backward +so that he sat down upon the floor with a loud bump. I flew to the +work-bench, and then the truth dawned upon him that I was not the +wooden bird but the real one. + +"'Good gracious!' said he, 'I've left the window open. The rascal will +escape!' + +"I glanced at the window and saw that it was indeed wide open. The +sight filled me with triumphant joy. Before the old man could get upon +his feet and reach the window I had perched upon the sill, and with one +parting cry of 'Cuck-oo!' I spread my wings and flew straight into the +air. + +"Well, I never went back to enquire if he enjoyed the trick I had +played upon him, but I've laughed many a time when I thought of the old +fellow's comic expression when a real cuckoo instead of a painted one +flew out of his ticking machine." + +As the cuckoo ended his tale the other birds joined in a chorus of +shrill laughter; but Chubbins said to them, gravely: + +"He was a smart man, though, to make a cuckoo-clock. I saw one myself, +one time, and it was a wonderful thing. The cuckoo told what time it +was every hour." + +"Was it made of wood?" asked the bluejay. + +"I don't know that," replied the boy-lark; "but of course it wasn't a +real bird." + +"It only shows," remarked the bobolink, "how greatly those humans +admire us birds. They make pictures of us, and love to keep us in cages +so they can hear us sing, and they even wear us in their bonnets after +we are dead." + +"I think that is a dreadful thing," said the goldfinch, with a shudder. +"But it only proves that men are our greatest enemies." + +"Don't forget the women," said Twinkle. "It's the women that wear birds +in their hats." + +"Mankind," said Robin Redbreast, gravely, "is the most destructive and +bloodthirsty of all the brute creation. They not only kill for food, +but through vanity and a desire for personal adornment. I have even +heard it said that they kill for amusement, being unable to restrain +their murderous desires. In this they are more cruel than the +serpents." + +"There is some excuse for the poor things," observed the bluejay, "for +nature created them dependent upon the animals and birds and fishes. +Having neither fur nor feathers to protect their poor skinny bodies, +they wear clothing made of the fleece of sheep, and skins of seals and +beavers and otters and even the humble muskrats. They cover their feet +and their hands with skins of beasts; they sleep upon the feathers of +birds; their food is the flesh of beasts and birds and fishes. No +created thing is so dependent upon others as man; therefore he is the +greatest destroyer in the world. But he is not alone in his murderous, +despoiling instinct. While you rail at man, my friends, do not forget +that birds are themselves the greatest enemies of birds." + +"Nonsense!" cried the magpie, indignantly. + +"Perhaps the less you say about this matter the better," declared the +bluejay, swinging his club in a suggestive manner, and looking sharply +at the magpie. + +"It's a slander," said the blackbird. "I'm sure you can't accuse _me_ +of injuring birds in any way." + +"If you are all innocent, why are we obliged to have a policeman?" +enquired the little wren, in a nervous voice. + +"Tell me," said Twinkle, appealing to the bluejay; "are the big birds +really naughty to the little ones?" + +"Why, it is the same with us as it is with men," replied the policeman. +"There are good ones and bad ones among us, and the bad ones have to be +watched. Men destroy us wantonly; other animals and the sly serpents +prey upon us and our eggs for food; but these are open enemies, and we +know how we may best avoid them. Our most dangerous foes are those +bandits of our own race who, instead of protecting their brethren, +steal our eggs and murder our young. They are not always the biggest +birds, by any means, that do these things. The crow family is known to +be treacherous, and the shrike is rightly called the 'butcher-bird,' +but there are many others that we have reason to suspect feed upon +their own race." + +"How dreadful!" exclaimed the girl-lark. + +The birds all seemed restless and uneasy at this conversation, and +looked upon one another with suspicious glances. But the bluejay +soothed them by saying: + +"After all, I suppose we imagine more evil than really exists, and +sometimes accuse our neighbors wrongfully. But the mother birds know +how often their nests have been robbed in their absence, and if they +suspect some neighbor of the crime instead of a prowling animal it is +but natural, since many birds cannot be trusted. There are laws in the +forest, of course; but the guilty ones are often able to escape. I'll +tell you of a little tragedy that happened only last week, which will +prove how apt we are to be mistaken." + + + +[CHAPTER VII] _The Bluejay's Story_ + +"There is no more faithful mother in the forest than the blue titmouse, +which is a cousin to the chickadee," continued the policeman, "and this +spring Tom Titmouse and his wife Nancy set up housekeeping in a little +hollow in an elm-tree about half a mile north of this spot. Of course, +the first thing Nancy did was to lay six beautiful eggs--white with +brown spots all over them--in the nest. Tom was as proud of these eggs +as was Nancy, and as the nest was hidden in a safe place they flew away +together to hunt for caterpillars, and had no thought of danger. But on +their return an hour later what was their sorrow to find the nest +empty, and every pretty egg gone. On the ground underneath the tree +were scattered a few bits of shell; but the robber was nowhere to be +seen. + +"Tom Titmouse was very indignant at this dreadful crime, and came to me +at once to complain of the matter; but of course I had no idea who had +done the deed. I questioned all the birds who have ever been known to +slyly steal eggs, and every one denied the robbery. So Nancy Titmouse +saw she must lay more eggs, and before long had another six speckled +beauties in the bottom of her nest. + +"They were more careful now about leaving home; but the danger seemed +past. One bright, sunny morning they ventured to fly to the brook to +drink and bathe themselves, and on their return found their home +despoiled for a second time. Not an egg was left to them out of the +six, and while Nancy wept and wailed Tom looked sharply around him and +saw a solitary shrike sitting on a limb not far away." + +"What's a shrike?" asked Chubbins. + +"It is a bird that looks a good deal like that mocking-bird sitting +next you; but it bears a bad character in the forest and has earned the +vile name of 'butcher-bird.' I admit that I am always obliged to keep +an eye upon the shrike, for I expect it to get into mischief at any +time. Well, Tom Titmouse naturally thought the shrike had eaten Nancy's +eggs, so he came to me and ordered me to arrest the robber. But the +shrike pleaded his innocence, and I had no proof against him. + +"Again Nancy, with true motherly courage and perseverance, laid her +eggs in the nest; and now they were never left alone for a single +minute. Either she or Tom was always at home, and for my part I watched +the shrike carefully and found he did not fly near the nest of the +titmice at all. + +"The result of our care was that one fine day the eggs hatched out, and +six skinny little titmice, with big heads and small bodies, were +nestling against Nancy's breast. The mother thought they were +beautiful, you may be sure, and many birds gathered around to +congratulate her and Tom, and the brown thrush sang a splendid song of +welcome to the little ones. + +"When the children got a little stronger it did not seem necessary to +guard the nest so closely, and the six appetites required a good many +insects and butterfly-eggs to satisfy them. So Tom and Nancy both flew +away to search for food, and when they came back they found, to their +horror, that their six little ones had been stolen, and the nest was +bare and cold. Nancy nearly fainted with sorrow, and her cries were +pitiful and heart-rending; but Tom Titmouse was dreadfully angry, and +came to me demanding vengeance. + +"'If you are any good at all as a policeman,' said he, 'you will +discover and punish the murderer of my babies.' + +"So I looked all around and finally discovered, not far from the nest +of the titmice, four of their children, all dead and each one impaled +upon the thorn of a bush that grew close to the ground. Then I decided +it was indeed the shrike, for he has a habit of doing just this thing; +killing more than he can eat and sticking the rest of his murdered +victims on thorns until he finds time to come back and devour them. + +"I was also angry, by that time; so I flew to the shrike's nest and +found him all scratched and torn and his feathers plucked in many +places. + +"'What has happened to you?' I asked. + +"'I had a fight with a weasel last night,' answered the shrike, 'and +both of us are rather used up, today.' + +"'Still,' said I, sternly, 'you had strength enough to kill the six +little titmice, and to eat two of them.' + +"'I never did,' said he, earnestly; 'my wings are too stiff to fly.' + +"'Do not lie about it, I beg of you,' said I; 'for we have found four +of the dead titmice stuck on the thorns of a bush, and your people have +been known to do such things before.' + +"At this the shrike looked worried. + +"'Really,' said he, 'I cannot understand it. But I assure you I am +innocent.' + +"Nevertheless, I arrested him, and made him fly with me to the Judgment +Tree, where all the birds had congregated. He was really stiff and +sore, and I could see it hurt him to fly; but my duty was plain. We +selected a jury of twelve birds, and Judge Bullfinch took his seat on a +bough, and then the trial began. + +"Tom Titmouse accused the shrike of murder, and so did Nancy, who had +nearly cried her eyes out. I also gave my evidence. But the prisoner +insisted strongly that he was innocent, and claimed he had not left his +nest since his fight with the weasel, and so was guiltless of the +crime. + +"But no one had any sympathy for him, or believed what he said; for it +is often the case that when one has earned a bad character he is +thought capable of any wickedness. So the jury declared him guilty, and +the judge condemned him to die at sundown. We were all to fall upon the +prisoner together, and tear him into bits with bill and claw; but while +we waited for the sun to sink Will Sparrow flew up to the Judgment Tree +and said: + +"'Hello! What's going on here?' + +"'We are just about to execute a criminal,' replied the judge. + +"'What has he been doing?' asked Will, eyeing the shrike curiously. + +"'He killed the titmice children this morning, and ate two of them, and +stuck the other four upon a thorn bush,' explained the judge. + +"'Oh, no; the shrike did not do that!' cried Will Sparrow. 'I saw the +crime committed with my own eyes, and it was the cunning weasel--the +one that lives in the pine stump--that did the dreadful murder.' + +"At this all the birds set up an excited chatter, and the shrike again +screamed that he was innocent. So the judge said, gravely: 'Will +Sparrow always speaks the truth. Release the prisoner, for we have +misjudged him. We must exact our vengeance upon the weasel.' + +"So we all flew swiftly to the pine stump, which we knew well, and when +we arrived we found the weasel sitting at the edge of his hole and +laughing at us. + +"'That is the very weasel I fought with,' said the shrike. 'You can see +where I tore the fur from his head and back with my sharp beak.' + +"'So you did,' answered the weasel; 'and in return I killed the little +tomtits.' + +"'Did you stick them on the thorns?' asked Judge Bullfinch. + +"'Yes,' said the weasel. 'I hoped you would accuse the shrike of the +murder, and kill him to satisfy my vengeance.' + +"'We nearly fell into the trap,' returned the judge; 'but Will Sparrow +saw your act and reported it just in time to save the shrike's life. +But tell me, did you also eat Nancy Titmouse's eggs?' + +"'Of course,' confessed the weasel, 'and they were very good, indeed.' + +"Hearing this, Tom Titmouse became so excited that he made a furious +dash at the weasel, who slipped within his hole and escaped. + +"'I condemn you to death!' cried the judge. + +"'That's all right,' answered the weasel, sticking just the tip of his +nose out of the hole. 'But you've got to catch me before you can kill +me. Run home, my pretty birds. You're no match for a weasel!' + +"Then he was gone from sight, and we knew he was hidden safely in the +stump, where we could not follow him, for the weasel's body is slim and +slender. But I have not lived in the forest all my life without +learning something, and I whispered a plan to Judge Bullfinch that met +with his approval. He sent messengers at once for the ivory-billed +woodpeckers, and soon four of those big birds appeared and agreed to +help us. They began tearing away at the stump with their strong beaks, +and the splinters flew in every direction. It was not yet dark when the +cunning weasel was dragged from his hole and was at the mercy of the +birds he had so cruelly offended. We fell upon him in a flash, and he +was dead almost instantly." + +"What became of the shrike?" asked Twinkle. + +"He left the forest the next day," answered Policeman Bluejay. "For +although he was innocent of this crime, he was still a butcher-bird, +and he knew our people had no confidence in him." + +"It was lucky Will Sparrow came in time," said the girl-lark. "But all +these stories must have made you hungry, so I'd like to invite my +guests to have some refreshments." + +The birds seemed much surprised by this invitation, and even Policeman +Bluejay wondered what she was going to do. But Twinkle whispered to +Chubbins, and both the bird-children flew into their basket and +returned with their claws full of cookie. They repeated the journey +many times, distributing bits of the rare food to all of the birds who +had visited them, and each one ate the morsel eagerly and declared that +it was very good. + +"Now," said the policeman, when the feast was over, "let us all go to +the brook and have a drink of its clear, sweet water." + +So they flew away, a large and merry band of all sizes and colors; and +the child-larks joined them, skimming the air as lightly and joyously +as any of their new friends. It did not take them long to reach a +sparkling brook that wound its way through the forest, and all the +feathered people drank their fill standing upon the low bank or upon +stones that rose above the level of the water. + +At first the children were afraid they might fall into the brook; but +presently they gained courage, and when they saw the thrush and +bullfinch plunge in and bathe themselves in the cool water Chubbins +decided to follow their example, and afterward Twinkle also joined +them. + +The birds now bade the child-larks good-bye and promised to call upon +them again, and soon all had flown away except the bluejay, who said he +would see Twinkle and Chubbins safe home again, so that they would not +get lost. + +They thanked him for this kindness, and when they had once more settled +upon the limb beside their nest the bluejay also bade them good night +and darted away for one last look through the forest to see that all +was orderly for the night. + + + +[CHAPTER VIII] _Mrs. Hootaway_ + +As the child-larks sat side by side upon their limb, with the soft gray +nest near at hand, the twilight fell and a shadow began to grow and +deepen throughout the forest. + +"Twink," said Chubbins, gravely, "how do you like it?" + +"Well," replied the girl, "it isn't so bad in the daytime, but it's +worse at night. That bunch of grass mixed up with the stems of leaves, +that they call a nest, isn't much like my pretty white bed at home, +Chubbins." + +"Nor mine," he agreed. "And, Twink, how ever can we say our prayers +when we haven't any hands to hold up together?" + +"Prayers, Chub," said the girl, "are more in our hearts than in our +hands. It isn't what we _do_ that counts; it's what we feel. But the +most that bothers me is what the folks at home will think, when we +don't come back." + +"They'll hunt for us," Chubbins suggested; "and they may come under +this tree, and call to us." + +"If they do," said Twinkle, "we'll fly right down to them." + +"I advise you not to fly much, in the night," said a cheery voice +beside them, and Wisk the squirrel stuck his head out of the hollow +where he lived. "You've had quite a party here today," he continued, +"and they behaved pretty well while the policeman was around. But some +of them might not be so friendly if you met them alone." + +"Would any bird hurt us?" asked the girl, in surprise. + +"Why, I've seen a magpie meet a thrush, and fly away alone," replied +Wisk. "And the wrens and chickadees avoid the cuckoo as much as +possible, because they are fond of being alive. But the policeman keeps +the big birds all in order when he is around, and he makes them all +afraid to disobey the laws. He's a wonderful fellow, that Policeman +Bluejay, and even we squirrels are glad he is in the forest." + +"Why?" asked Chubbins. + +"Well, we also fear some of the birds," answered Wisk. "The lady in the +third flat, for instance, Mrs. Hootaway, is said to like a squirrel for +a midnight meal now and then, when mice and beetles are scarce. It is +almost her hour for wakening, so I must be careful to keep near home." + +"Tut--tut--tut!" cried a harsh voice from above. "What scandal is this +you are talking, Mr. Wisk?" + +The squirrel was gone in a flash; but a moment later he put out his +head again and turned one bright eye toward the upper part of the tree. +There, on a perch outside her hollow, sat the gray owl, pruning her +feathers. It was nearly dark by this time, and through the dusk Mrs. +Hootaway's yellow eyes could be seen gleaming bright and wide open. + +"What nonsense are you putting into the heads of these little +innocents?" continued the owl, in a scolding tone. + +"No nonsense at all," said Wisk, in reply. "The child-larks are safe +enough from you, because they are under the protection of Policeman +Bluejay, and he would have a fine revenge if you dared to hurt them. +But my case is different. The laws of the birds do not protect +squirrels, and when you're abroad, my dear Mrs. Hootaway, I prefer to +remain snugly at home." + +"To be sure," remarked the owl, with a laugh. "You are timid and +suspicious by nature, my dear Wisk, and you forget that although I have +known you for a long time I have never yet eaten you." + +"That is my fault, and not yours," retorted the squirrel. + +"Well, I'm not after you tonight, neighbor, nor after birds, either. I +know where there are seven fat mice to be had, and until they are all +gone you may cease to worry." + +"I'm glad to hear that," replied Wisk. "I wish there were seven hundred +mice to feed your appetite. But I'm not going to run into danger +recklessly, nevertheless, and it is my bed-time. So good night, Mrs. +Hootaway; and good night, little child-larks." The owl did not reply, +but Twinkle and Chubbins called good night to the friendly squirrel, +and then they hopped into their nest and cuddled down close together. + +The moon was now rising over the trees and flooding the gloom of the +forest with its subdued silver radiance. The children were not sleepy; +their new life was too strange and wonderful for them to be able to +close their eyes at once. So they were rather pleased when the gray owl +settled on the branch beside their nest and began to talk to them. + +"I'm used to slanders, my dears," she said, in a pleasanter tone than +she had used before, "so I don't mind much what neighbor Wisk says to +me. But I do not wish you to think ill of the owl family, and so I must +assure you that we are as gentle and kindly as any feathered creatures +in the forest--not excepting the Birds of Paradise." + +"I am sure of that," replied Twinkle, earnestly. "You are too soft and +fluffy and pretty to be bad." + +"It isn't the prettiness," said the gray owl, evidently pleased by the +compliment. "It is the nature of owls to be kind and sympathetic. Those +who do not know us very well say harsh things about us, because we fly +in the night, when most other birds are asleep, and sleep in the +daytime when most other birds are awake." + +"Why do you do that?" asked Chubbins. + +"Because the strong light hurts our eyes. But, although we are abroad +in the night, we seek only our natural prey, and obey the Great Law of +the forest more than some others do." + +"What is the Great Law?" enquired Twinkle, curiously. + +"Love. It is the moral law that is above all laws made by living +creatures. The whole forest is ruled by love more than it is by fear. +You may think this is strange when you remember that some animals eat +birds, and some birds eat animals, and the dreadful creeping things eat +us both; but nevertheless we are so close to Nature here that love and +tenderness for our kind influences us even more than it does mankind-- +the careless and unthinking race from which you came. The residents of +the forest are good parents, helpful neighbors, and faithful friends. +What better than this could be said of us?" + +"Nothing, I'm sure, if it is true," replied the girl. + +"Over in the Land of Paradise," continued the owl, thoughtfully, "the +birds are not obliged to take life in order to live themselves; so they +call us savage and fierce. But I believe our natures are as kindly as +those of the Birds of Paradise." + +"Where is this Land of Paradise you speak of?" asked Twinkle. + +"Directly in the center of our forest. It is a magical spot, protected +from intrusion not by any wall or barred gates, but by a strong wind +that blows all birds away from that magnificent country except the +Birds of Paradise themselves. There is a legend that man once lived +there, but for some unknown crime was driven away. But the birds have +always been allowed to inhabit the place because they did no harm." + +"I'd like to see it," said Chubbins. + +"So would I," confessed the gray owl, with a sigh; "but there is no use +of my attempting to get into the Paradise of Birds, because the wind +would blow me back. But now it is getting quite dark, and I must be off +to seek my food. Mrs. 'Possum and I have agreed to hunt together, +tonight." + +"Who is Mrs. 'Possum?" the girl asked. + +"An animal living in the lowest hollow of this tree," answered the owl. +"She is a good-natured creature, and hunts by night, as I do. She is +slow, but, being near the ground, she can spy a mouse much quicker than +I can, and then she calls to me to catch it. So between us we get +plenty of game and are helpful to each other. The only drawback is that +Mrs. 'Possum has four children, which she carries in her pouch wherever +she goes, and they have to be fed as well as their mother. So the +'possums have five mouths to my one, and it keeps us busy to supply +them all." + +"It's very kind of you to help her," remarked Twinkle. + +"Oh, she helps me, too," returned the owl, cheerfully. "But now good +night, my dears. You will probably be sound asleep when I get home +again." + +Off flew Mrs. Hootaway with these words, and her wings moved so +noiselessly that she seemed to fade away into the darkness like a +ghost. + +The child-larks sat looking at the silver moon for a time; but +presently Twinkle's eyelids drooped and she fell fast asleep, and +Chubbins was not long in following her example. + + + +[CHAPTER IX] _The Destroyers_ + +A loud shouting and a bang that echoed like a clap of thunder through +the forest awoke the bird-children from their dreams. + +Opening their eyes with a start they saw that the gray dawn was +breaking and a sort of morning twilight made all objects in the forest +distinct, yet not so brilliant as the approaching daylight would. +Shadows still lay among the bushes and the thickest branches; but +between the trees the spaces were clearly visible. + +The children, rudely awakened by the riot of noise in their ears, could +distinguish the barking of dogs, the shouts of men calling to the +brutes, and the scream of an animal in deep distress. Immediately +after, there was a whirl overhead and the gray owl settled on the limb +beside their nest. + +"They've got her!" she exclaimed, in a trembling, terrified voice. "The +men have shot Mrs. 'Possum dead, and the dogs are now tearing her four +babies limb from limb!" + +"Where are they?" whispered Twinkle, her little heart beating as +violently as if the dread destroyers had always been her mortal +enemies. + +"Just below us. Isn't it dreadful? We had such a nice night together, +and Mrs. 'Possum was so sweet and loving in caring for her little ones +and feeding them! And, just as we were nearly home again, the dogs +sprang upon my friend and the men shot her dead. We had not even +suspected, until then, that our foes were in the forest." + +Twinkle and Chubbins craned their necks over the edge of the nest and +looked down. On the ground stood a man and a boy, and two great dogs +were growling fiercely and tearing some bloody, revolting object with +their cruel jaws. + +"Look out!" cried the voice of Wisk, the squirrel. "He's aiming at +you--look out!" + +They ducked their heads again, just as the gun roared and flamed fire +beneath them. + +"Oh-h-h!" wailed Mrs. Hootaway, fluttering violently beside them. "They +struck me that time--the bullet is in my heart. Good-bye, my dears. +Remember that--all--is love; all is--love!" + +Her voice died away to a whisper, and she toppled from the limb. +Twinkle and Chubbins tried to save their dying friend from falling, but +the gray owl was so much bigger than they that they could not support +the weight of her body. Slowly she sank to the ground and fell upon the +earth with a dull sound that was dreadful to hear. + +Instantly Twinkle darted from the nest and swooped downward, alighting +on the ground beside the owl's quivering body. A big dog came bounding +toward her. The man was reloading his gun, a few paces away. + +"Call off your dog!" shouted Twinkle, wildly excited. "How dare you +shoot the poor, harmless birds? Call off your dog, I say!" + +But, even as she spoke, the words sounded in her own ears strange and +unnatural, and more like the chirping of a bird than the language of +men. The hunter either did not hear her or he did not understand her, +and the dog snarled and bared its wicked teeth as it sprang greedily +upon the child-lark. + +Twinkle was too terrified to move. She glared upon the approaching +monster helplessly, and it had almost reached her when a black object +fell from the skies with the swiftness of a lightning streak and struck +the dog's back, tearing the flesh with its powerful talons and driving +a stout, merciless beak straight through the skull of the savage brute. + +The dog, already dead, straightened out and twitched convulsively. The +man shouted angrily and sprang upon the huge bird that had slain his +pet, at the same time swinging his gun like a club. + +"Quick!" said the eagle to Twinkle, "mount with me as swiftly as you +can." + +With the words he rose into the air and Twinkle darted after him, while +Chubbins, seeing their flight from his nest, joined them just in time +to escape a shot from the boy's deadly gun. + +The inquisitive squirrel, however, had stuck his head out to see what +was happening, and one of the leaden bullets buried itself in his +breast. Chubbins saw him fall back into his hollow and heard his +agonized scream; but he could not stay to help his poor friend. An +instant later he had joined the eagle and Twinkle, and was flying as +hard and swift as his wonderful lark wings could carry him up, up into +the blue sky. + +The sunshine touched them now, while below the tragic forest still lay +buried in gloom. + +"We are quite safe here, for I am sure no shot from a gun could reach +us," said the eagle. "So let us rest upon our wings for a while. How +lucky it was that I happened to be around in time to rescue you, my +little friends." + +"I am very grateful, indeed," answered Twinkle, holding her wings +outstretched so that she floated lightly in the air beside her rescuer. +"If you had been an instant later, the dog would have killed me." + +"Very true," returned the eagle. "I saw your danger while I was in the +air, and determined to act quickly, although I might myself have been +shot by the man had his gun been loaded. But I have noticed that a bold +action is often successful because it causes surprise, and the foe does +not know what to do." + +"I'm 'shamed of those people," said Chubbins, indignantly. "What right +had they to come to the forest and kill the pretty owl, and the dear +little squirrel, and the poor mama 'possum and her babies?" + +"They had the right of power," said the eagle, calmly. "It would be a +beautiful world were there no destroyers of life in it; but the earth +and air and water would then soon become so crowded that there would +not be room for them all to exist. Don't blame the men." + +"But they are cruel," said Twinkle, "and kill innocent, harmless birds +and animals, instead of the wicked ones that could be better spared." + +"Cruelty is man's nature," answered the eagle. "Of all created things, +men, tigers and snakes are known to be the most cruel. From them we +expect no mercy. But now, what shall be our next movement? I suppose it +will be best for you to keep away from the forest until the men are +gone. Would you like to visit my home, and meet my wife and children?" + +"Yes, indeed!" cried Twinkle; "if you will be kind enough to let us." + +"It will be a great pleasure to me," said the eagle. "Follow me +closely, please." + +He began flying again, and they kept at his side. By and by they +noticed a bright, rosy glow coming from a portion of the forest beneath +them. + +"What is that?" asked Chubbins. + +"It is the place called the Paradise of Birds," answered their +conductor. "It is said to be the most beautiful place in all the world, +but no one except the Birds of Paradise are allowed to live there. +Those favored birds sometimes enter our part of the forest, but we are +never allowed to enter theirs." + +"I'd like to see that place," said Twinkle. + +"Well, you two child-larks are different from all other birds," +remarked the eagle, "and for that reason perhaps you would be allowed +to visit the paradise that is forbidden the rest of us. If ever I meet +one of the beautiful birds that live there, I will ask it to grant you +the privilege." + +"Do!" said Twinkle and Chubbins, in one eager breath. They flew for a +long time, high in the air, but neither of the bird-children seemed to +tire in the least. They could not go quite as fast as the eagle, +however, who moderated his speed so that they could keep up with him. + + + +[CHAPTER X] _In the Eagle's Nest_ + +Gradually the forest passed out of sight and only bleak, rugged +mountains were below them. One peak rose higher than the others, and +faced the sea, and to this point the great eagle directed their flight. + +On a crag that jutted out from the mountain was the eagle's nest, made +of rude sticks of wood gathered from the forest. Sitting beside the +nest was Mrs. Eagle, larger and more pompous even than her husband, +while squatting upon the edge of the nest were two half-grown eaglets +with enormous claws and heads, but rather skinny bodies that were +covered with loose and ragged feathers. Neither the nest nor the +eaglets appeared to be very clean, and a disagreeable smell hung over +the place. + +"This is funny," said Mrs. Eagle, looking at the child-larks with +surprise. "Usually you kill your game before you bring it home, +Jonathan; but today it seems our dinner has flown to us willingly." + +"They're for us!" cried one of the eaglets, making a quick dash to +seize Twinkle, who darted out of his reach. + +"One for each of us!" screamed the other eaglet, rushing at Chubbins. + +"Peace--be quiet!" said the eagle, sternly. "Cannot you tell friends +from food, you foolish youngsters? These are two little friends of mine +whom I have invited to visit us; so you must treat them in a civil +manner." + +"Why not eat them?" asked one of the eaglets, looking at the +child-larks with hungry eyes. + +"Because I forbid you. They are my guests, and must be protected and +well treated. And even if this were not so, the larks are too small to +satisfy your hunger, you little gluttons." + +"Jonathan," said Mrs. Eagle, coldly, "do not reproach our offspring for +their hunger. We sent you out this morning to procure a supply of food, +and we expected you to bring us home something good to eat, instead of +these useless little creatures." + +The eagle seemed annoyed at being scolded in this manner. + +"I had an adventure in the forest," he said, "and came near being shot +and killed by a man. That is the reason I came home so soon." + +Twinkle and Chubbins were standing together at the edge of the crag +when one of the eaglets suddenly spread out his wide, stiff wings and +pushed them over the precipice. They recovered themselves before they +had fallen far, and flew to the ledge again just in time to see the +father eagle cuff his naughty son very soundly. But the mother only +laughed in her harsh voice and said: + +"It is so early in the day, Jonathan, that I advise you to go again in +search of food. Our sweet darlings will not be comforted until they +have eaten." + +"Very well," answered the eagle. "I am sorry you cannot treat my guests +more politely, for they are all unaccustomed to such rudeness. But I +see that it will be better for me to take them away with me at once." + +"Do," said Mrs. Eagle; and the eaglets cried: "Better let us eat 'em, +daddy. They are not very big, but they're better than no breakfast at +all." + +"You're dis'greeable things!" said Twinkle, indignantly; "and I don't +like you a bit. So _there!"_ + +"Come on, Twink," said Chubbins. "Let's go away." + +"I will take you back to the forest," the eagle declared, and at once +rose into the air. Twinkle and Chubbins followed him, and soon the nest +on the crag was left far behind and they could no longer hear the hoot +of the savage young ones. + +For a time the eagle flew in silence. Then he said: + +"You must forgive my family for not being more hospitable. You must +know that they live a very lonely life, and have no society because +every living thing fears them. But I go abroad more and see more of the +world, so I know very well how guests ought to be treated." + +"You have been very kind to us, Mr. Eagle," replied the girl-lark, "and +you saved my life when the dog would have killed me. I don't blame you +any for what your family did. My mama says lots of people show off +better abroad than they do at home, and that's your case exactly. If I +were you I wouldn't take any more visitors to my nest." + +"I do not intend to," answered the eagle. "But I am glad that you think +well of me personally, if you do not of my family, and I assure you it +has been a real pleasure to me to assist you. Were you like ordinary +birds, you would be beneath my notice; but I am wise enough to +understand that you are very unusual and wonderful little creatures, +and if at any time I can serve you further, you have but to call me, +and I will do what I can for you." + +"Thank you very much," replied Twinkle, who realized that the great +bird had acted more gently toward them than it is the nature of his +wild race to do. + +They had just reached the edge of the forest again when they saw a bird +approaching them at a great speed, and soon it came near enough for +them to see that it was Policeman Bluejay. He wore his official helmet +and carried his club, and as soon as he came beside them he said: + +"Thank goodness I've found you at last. I've been hunting for you an +hour, and began to fear you had met with some misfortune." + +"We've been with the eagle," said the girl. "He saved our lives and +carried us away from where the dreadful men were." + +"We have had sad doings in the forest today--very sad, indeed," +declared the bluejay, in a grave voice. "The hunters did even more +damage than usual. They killed Jolly Joe, the brown bear, and Sam Fox, +and Mrs. 'Possum and her babies, and Wisk the squirrel; so that the +animals are all in mourning for their friends. But our birds suffered +greatly, also. Mrs. Hootaway is dead, and three pigeons belonging to a +highly respected family; but the saddest of all is the murder of Mr. +and Mrs. Goldfinch, both of whom were killed by the same shot. You may +remember, my dears, that they were at your reception yesterday, and as +gay and happy as any of the company present. In their nest are now five +little children, too young and weak to fly, and there is no one to feed +them or look after them." + +"Oh, that is dreadful!" exclaimed Twinkle. "Can't Chubbins and I do +something for the little goldfinches?" + +"Why, that is why I was so anxious to find you," answered Policeman +Bluejay. "You haven't laid any eggs yet, and have no one to depend upon +you. So I hoped you would adopt the goldfinch babies." + +"We will," said Chubbins, promptly. "We can feed them out of our +basket." + +"Oh, yes," chimed in the girl. "We couldn't catch grubs for them, you +know." + +"It won't be necessary," observed the policeman, with a sly wink at the +eagle. "They're too young yet to know grubs from grub." + + + +[CHAPTER XI] _The Orphans_ + +The eagle now bade them good-bye and flew away in search of prey, while +the bluejay and the child-larks directed their flight toward that part +of the great forest where they lived. + +"Are you sure the men have gone?" asked Chubbins. + +"Yes," replied the policeman; "they left the forest as soon as they had +shot Jolly Joe, for the brown bear was so heavy that they had to carry +him on a pole resting across their shoulders. I hope they won't come +again very soon." + +"Did they take Mrs. Hootaway with them?" asked Twinkle. + +"Yes; she will probably be stuffed, poor thing!" + +Presently they passed near the rosy glow that lighted up the center of +the forest with its soft radiance, and the girl said: + +"That is the Paradise Land, where the Birds of Paradise live. The eagle +has promised to ask one of those birds to let us visit their country." + +"Oh, I can do better than that, if you wish to visit the Paradise," +responded the bluejay; "for the Guardian of the Entrance is a special +friend of mine, and will do whatever I ask him to." + +"Will he, really?" asked the girl, in delight. + +"To be sure. Some day I will take you over there, and then you will see +what powerful friends Policeman Bluejay has." + +"I'd like that," declared Twinkle. + +Their swift flight enabled them to cover the remaining distance very +rapidly, and soon they were at home again. + +They first flew to the nest of the goldfinches, which was in a tree not +far from the maple where the lark-children lived. There they found the +tiny birds, who were yet so new that they were helpless indeed. Mrs. +Redbreast was sitting by the nest when they arrived, and she said: + +"The poor orphans are still hungry, although I have fed them all the +insects I could find near. But I am glad that you have come, for it is +time I was at home looking after my own little ones." + +"Chubbins and I have 'dopted the goldfinches," said Twinkle, "so we will +look after them now. But it was very nice of you, Mrs. Redbreast, to +take take care of them until we arrived." + +"Well, I like to be neighborly," returned the pretty bird; "and as long +as cruel men enter our forest no mother can tell how soon her own +little ones will be orphaned and left helpless." + +"That is true," said the policeman, nodding gravely. + +So Mrs. Redbreast flew away and now Chubbins looked curiously into the +nest, where several fluffy heads were eagerly lifted with their bills +as wide open as they could possibly stretch. + +"They must be just _awful_ hungry, Twink," said the boy. + +"Oh, they're always like that," observed Policeman Bluejay, calmly. +"When anyone is around they open their mouths to be fed, whether they +are hungry or not. It's the way with birdlets." + +"What shall we feed them?" asked Twinkle. + +"Oh, anything at all; they are not particular," said the bluejay, and +then he flew away and left the child-larks to their new and interesting +task. + +"I'll be the father, and you be the mother," said Chubbins. + +"All right," answered Twinkle. + +"Peep! peep! peep!" said the tiny goldfinches. + +"I wonder if the luncheon in our basket would agree with them," +remarked the girl, looking at the open mouths reflectively as she +perched her own brown body upon the edge of the deep nest. + +"Might try it," suggested the boy. "The cop says they're not +particular, and what's good enough for us ought to be good enough for +them." + +So they flew to where the basket hung among the thick leaves of the +tree, which had served to prevent the men from discovering it, and +crept underneath the cloth that covered it. + +"Which do you think they'd like best," asked Chubbins, "the pickles or +the cheese?" + +"Neither one," Twinkle replied. "The sandwiches will be best for them. +Wait; I'll pick out some of the meat that is between the slices of +bread. They'll be sure to like that." + +"Of course," agreed Chubbins, promptly. "They'll think it's bugs." + +So each one dragged out a big piece of meat from a sandwich, and by +holding it fast in one claw they managed to fly with the burden to the +nest of the goldfinch babies. + +"Don't give it to 'em all at once," cautioned the girl. "It would choke +'em." + +"I know," said Chubbins. + +He tore off a tiny bit of the meat and dropped it into one of the +wide-open bills. Instantly it was gone and the mouth was open again for +more. They tried to divide the dinner equally among them, but they all +looked so alike and were so ravenous to eat everything that was dropped +into their bills that it was hard work to keep track of which had been +fed and which had not. But the child-larks were positive that each one +had had enough to keep it from starving, because there was a big bunch +in front of each little breast that was a certain proof of a full crop. + +The next task of the guardians was to give the birdlets drink; so +Twinkle and Chubbins flew to the brook and by hunting around a while +they found an acorn-cup that had fallen from one of the oak trees. This +they filled with water, and then Twinkle, who was a trifle larger than +the boy-lark, clutched the cup firmly with her toes and flew back to +the orphans without spilling more than a few drops. They managed to +pour some of the water into each open mouth, and then Twinkle said: + +"There! they won't die of either hunger or thirst in a hurry, Chub. So +now we can feed ourselves." + +"Their mouths are still open," returned the boy, doubtfully. + +"It must be a habit they have," she answered. "Wouldn't you think +they'd get tired stretching their bills that way?" + +"Peep! peep! peep!" cried the baby goldfinches. + +"You see," said the boy, with a wise look, "they don't know any better. +I had a dog once that howled every time we shut him up. But if we let +him alone he stopped howling. We'll go and get something to eat and let +these beggars alone a while. Perhaps they'll shut their mouths by the +time we get back again." + +"Maybe," replied Twinkle. + +They got their own luncheon from the basket, and afterward perched on +the tree near the nest of the little goldfinches. They did not feel at +all comfortable in their old nest in the maple, because they could not +forget the tragic deaths of the inhabitants of the three hollows in the +tree--the three "flats" as poor Wisk had merrily called them. + +During the afternoon several of the birds came to call upon the +orphans, and they all nodded approval when they found the child-larks +watching over the little ones. Twinkle questioned some of the mothers +anxiously about that trick the babies had of keeping their bills open +and crying for food, but she was told to pay no attention to such +actions. + +Nevertheless, the pleadings of the orphans, who were really stuffed +full of food, made the child-larks so nervous that they hailed with +delight the arrival of Policeman Bluejay in the early evening. The busy +officer had brought with him Mrs. Chaffinch, a widow whose husband had +been killed a few days before by a savage wildcat. + +Mrs. Chaffinch declared she would be delighted to become a mother to +the little goldfinches, and rear them properly. She had always had good +success in bringing up her own children, she claimed, and the +goldfinches were first cousins to the chaffinches, so she was sure to +understand their ways perfectly. + +Twinkle did not want to give up her charges at first, as she had become +interested in them; but Chubbins heaved a sigh of relief and declared +he was glad the "restless little beggars" had a mother that knew more +about them than he did. The bluejay hinted that he considered the +widow's experience would enable her to do more for the baby goldfinches +than could a child-lark who had never yet laid an egg, and so Twinkle +was forced to yield to his superior judgment. + +Mrs. Chaffinch settled herself in a motherly manner upon the nest, and +the two bird-children bade her good-night and returned to their own +maple tree, where they had a rather wakeful night, because Chubbins +thoughtlessly suggested that the place might be haunted by the ghosts +of the gray owl, Wisk, and Mrs. 'Possum. + +But either the poor things had no ghosts or they were too polite to +bother the little child-larks. + + + +[CHAPTER XII] _The Guardian_ + +The next morning ushered in a glorious day, sunny and bright. The sky +was a clear blue, and only a slight breeze ruffled the leaves of the +trees. Even before Twinkle and Chubbins were awake the birds were +calling merrily to one another throughout the forest, and the chipmonks +chirped in their own brisk, businesslike way as they scuttled from tree +to tree. + +While the child-larks were finishing their breakfast Policeman Bluejay +came to them, his feathers looking fresh and glossy and all his +gorgeous colorings appearing especially beautiful in the sunshine. + +"Today will be a rare day to visit the Paradise," he said; "so I have +come to escort you to the Guardian of the Entrance, who I am sure will +arrange for you to enter that wonderful country." + +"It is very kind of you to remember our wish," said Twinkle. "We are +all ready." + +So they flew above the tree-tops and began their journey toward the +center of the forest. + +"Where's your p'liceman's hat and club?" Chubbins asked the bluejay. + +"Why, I left them at home," was the reply. "I'm not on official duty +today, you know, and the Guardian does not like to see anything that +looks like a weapon. In his country there are no such things as +quarrels or fighting, or naughtiness of any sort; for as they have +everything they want there is nothing to quarrel over or fight for. The +Birds of Paradise have laws, I understand; but they obey them because +they are told to, and not because they are forced to. It would be a bad +country for a policeman to live in." + +"But a good place for everyone else," said Twinkle. + +"Perhaps so," agreed the policeman, reluctantly. "But I sometimes think +the goody-goody places would get awful tiresome to live in, after a +time. Here in our part of the forest there is a little excitement, for +the biggest birds only obey our laws through fear of punishment, and I +understand it is just the same in the world of men. But in the Birds' +Paradise there lives but one race, every member of which is quite +particular not to annoy any of his fellows in any way. That is why they +will admit no disturbing element into their country. If you are +admitted, my dears, you must be very careful not to offend any one that +you meet." + +"We'll try to be good," promised Chubbins. + +"I would not dare to take any of my own people there," continued the +bluejay, flying swiftly along as they talked together; "but you two are +different, and more like the fairy Birds of Paradise themselves than +like our forest birds. That is the reason I feel sure the Guardian will +admit you." + +"I'm naughty sometimes, and so is Chubbins," said Twinkle, honestly. +"But we try not to be any naughtier than we can help." + +"I am sure you will behave very nicely," replied the bluejay. + +After a time the rosy glow appeared reflected in the blue sky, and as +they flew toward it the soft and delightful radiance seemed to grow and +deepen in intensity. It did not dazzle their eyes in the least, but as +the light penetrated the forest and its furthest rays fell upon the +group, they experienced a queer sense of elation and light-hearted joy. + +But now the breeze freshened and grew more strong, pressing against +their feathered breasts so gently yet powerfully that they soon +discovered they were not advancing at all, but simply fluttering in the +air. + +"Drop down to the ground," whispered the bluejay; and they obeyed his +injunction and found that close to the earth the wind was not so +strong. + +"That is a secret I learned some time ago," said their friend. "Most +birds who seek to enter the Paradise try to beat against the wind, and +are therefore always driven back; but there is just one way to approach +the Guardian near enough to converse with him. After that it depends +entirely upon his good-will whether you get any farther." + +The wind still blew so strongly that it nearly took their breath away, +but by creeping steadily over the ground they were able to proceed +slowly, and after a time the pressure of the wind grew less and less, +until it suddenly ceased altogether. + +Then they stopped to rest and to catch their breaths, but before this +happened Twinkle and Chubbins both uttered exclamations of amazement at +the sight that met their eyes. + +Before them was a grove composed of stately trees not made of wood, but +having trunks of polished gold and silver and leaves of exquisite +metallic colorings. Beneath the trees was a mass of brilliant flowers, +exceedingly rare and curious in form, and as our little friends looked +upon them these flowers suddenly began a chant of greeting and then +sang a song so sweet and musical that the lark-children were entranced +and listened in rapt delight. + +When the song ended the flowers all nodded their heads in a pretty way, +and Twinkle drew a long breath and murmured: + +"Isn't it odd to hear flowers sing? I'm sure the birds themselves +cannot beat that music." + +"They won't try," replied the policeman, "for Birds of Paradise do not +sing." + +"How strange!" exclaimed the girl. + +"The land they live in is so full of music that they do not need to," +continued the bluejay. "But before us is the entrance, leading through +the limbs of that great golden tree you see at the left. Fly swiftly +with me, and perch upon the middle branch." + +With these words he darted toward the tree, and Twinkle and Chubbins +followed. In a few seconds they alighted upon the branch and found +themselves face to face with the first Bird of Paradise they had yet +seen. + +He possessed a graceful carriage and a most attractive form, being in +size about as large as a common pigeon. His eyes were shrewd but gentle +in expression and his pose as he stood regarding the newcomers was +dignified and impressive. But the children had little time to note +these things because their wondering eyes were riveted upon the bird's +magnificent plumage. The feathers lay so smoothly against his body that +they seemed to present a solid surface, and in color they were a +glistening emerald green upon the neck and wings, shading down on the +breast to a softer green and then to a pure white. The main +wing-feathers were white, tipped with vivid scarlet, and the white +feathers of his crest were also tipped with specks of flame. But his +tail feathers were the most beautiful of all his gay uniform. They +spread out in the shape of a fan, and every other feather was brilliant +green and its alternate feather snow white. + +"How lovely!" cried Twinkle, and the bird bowed its head and with a +merry glance from its eyes responded: + +"Your admiration highly honors me, little stranger." + +"This," said Policeman Bluejay, "is the important official called the +Guardian of the Entrance of Paradise. Sir Guardian, permit me to +introduce to you two children of men who have been magically +transformed into skylarks against their will. They are not quite birds, +because their heads retain the human shape; but whatever form they may +bear, their natures are sweet and innocent and I deem them worthy to +associate for a brief time with your splendid and regal race. Therefore +I have brought them here to commend them to your hospitality and +good-will, and I hope you will receive them as your guests." + +"What are your names, little strangers?" asked the Guardian. + +"Mama calls me Twinkle," said the girl. + +"I'm Chubbins," said the boy. + +The Guardian looked attentively at the bluejay. + +"You know our regulations," said he; "no birds of the forest are +admitted to our Paradise." + +"I know," replied the policeman. "I will await my little friends here. +It is pleasure enough for me to have just this glimpse of your +beautiful fairyland." + +The Guardian nodded his approval of this speech. + +"Very well," he answered, "you shall remain and visit with me. If all +forest birds were like you, my friend, there would be little danger in +admitting them into our society. But they are not, and the laws must be +regarded. As for the child-larks, I will send them first to the King, +in charge of the Royal Messenger, whom I will now summon." + +He tossed his head upward with an abrupt motion, and in the tree-top a +chime of golden bells rang musically in the air. The flowers beneath +them caught up the refrain, and sang it softly until another bird came +darting through the air and alighted on the golden limb beside the +Guardian. + +The newcomer was differently garbed from the other. His plumage was +orange and white, the crest and wing-feathers being tipped with bright +blue. Nor was he so large as the Guardian, nor so dignified in +demeanor. Indeed, his expression was rather merry and roguish, and as +he saw the strangers he gave a short, sharp whistle of surprise. + +"My dear Ephel," said the Guardian, "oblige me by escorting these +child-larks to the presence of his Majesty the King." + +"I am delighted to obey your request," answered Ephel the Messenger, +brightly. Then, turning to Twinkle and Chubbins, he added: "I trust you +will find my society agreeable during our flight to the royal monarch +of Paradise." + +Twinkle was too much embarrassed by this politeness to answer at once, +but Chubbins said "Sure thing!" in a matter-of-fact voice, and the +Messenger nodded gaily and continued: + +"Then we will go, if it pleases you." + +He spread his wings in a flash of color and sped away into the +Paradise, and the children eagerly followed him. + + + +[CHAPTER XIII] _The King Bird_ + +More and more magnificence was unfolded as they advanced into this +veritable fairyland of the birds. Vines of silver climbed up the golden +trunks of trees and mingled their twining threads with the brilliant +leaves. And now upon the trees appeared jewelled blossoms that sparkled +most exquisitely in the rosy-hued radiance that, in this favored spot, +had taken the place of sunshine. There were beds of plants with +wide-spreading leaves that changed color constantly, one hue slowly +melting into another and no two leaves on the same plant having the +same color at the same time. Yet in spite of the vivid coloring that +prevailed everywhere, each combination seemed in perfect harmony and +served to delight the senses. + +Bushes that emitted a grateful fragrance bore upon slender branches +little bells that at times tinkled in the perfumed breeze and played +sweet melodies, while here and there were clusters of fountain-lilies +that shot sprays of crystal water high into the air. When the water +fell back again and the drops struck against the broad leaves of the +plants, they produced a melodious sound that was so delightful that +Twinkle thought she could listen to it for hours. + +Their guide flew silently on, and the two children were so much amazed +by their surroundings that they had no words for questions or even +remarks. + +The scene was ever shifting and becoming more and more lovely and +fascinating, and the paradise was more extensive than they had thought +it. + +By and bye Ephel the Messenger approached the central part, where was a +great arbor thickly covered with masses of pure white flowers. Some of +these were large, like chrysanthemums and mammoth white double roses, +while among them were twined smaller and more delicate blossoms, like +the bells of lilies-of-the-valley. + +Ephel entered the arch of the arbor and flew on, for it was of great +extent and continually enlarged from the point of entrance, so that at +last the child-larks found themselves in a lofty circular chamber +banked on sides and roof with solid masses of the snow-white flowers, +which filled the air with a sweet and agreeable perfume. The floor was +also a mass of white blossoms, so that the place resembled the inside +of a huge cornucopia. + +But the eyes of the little strangers were not directed so much to the +arbor itself as to the group of splendid birds that occupied the +flower-chamber and perched upon a wide-spreading bush of filigree gold +that rose from the middle of the floor and spread its dainty branches +in every direction. + +On the lower branches sat many birds of marvellous colorings, some +having blue the predominant tint in their feathers, and others green, +or scarlet, or brilliant yellows. In strong contrast with these were a +few modest-looking birds with soft brown feathers covering their +graceful forms, that sat silently upon the lowest and most retired +branch of the golden bush; but still greater was the contrast of all +present with the magnificence of the one occupying the topmost branch. + +This gorgeous creature, whose splendor dominated the white bower, at +once won the children's attention, and they had no doubt they were +gazing upon the King Bird of Paradise. + +The feathers of his head and neck were so fine that they looked like a +covering of velvet. These seemed to be, at first, of a delicate +lavender color, but the children observed that they shone with a +different tint at every movement the King made. The body feathers, also +as glossy as velvet, were of a rich royal purple, shading to lavender +and then to white upon his breast. His wing plumes were white, tipped +with specks of lustrous gold. + +But by far the most astonishing part of the King's plumage was that +which consisted of the dainty, fern-like plumes that rose from his body +and tail and spread in graceful and bewildering curves both right and +left, until his form seemed to be standing in a feathery bower of +resplendent beauty. All the colors of the rainbow were seen in these +delicate feathers, and against the white background of the arch this +monarch of the feathered world appeared more royally magnificent than +any words can describe. + +Both Twinkle and Chubbins gasped with amazement and delight as, at the +command of Ephel, they alighted upon a lowly branch of the golden bush +and bowed their heads before the ruler of the birds' fairyland. + +"Ah, whom have we here?" asked the King, in a soft voice, as he +strutted and proudly turned himself upon his perch. + +"Strangers, your Majesty," answered the Messenger. "They are sent to +you by the Guardian of the Entrance because they are gentle and +innocent, and are neither birds nor mortals, but a part of both." + +"They are certainly very curious," remarked the King, staring at the +human heads upon the lark bodies. "May I ask you, little strangers, how +you happen to exist in your present form?" + +Twinkle, tossing her head to throw back a straggling lock of hair that +had fallen across her eyes, began in her sweet voice to tell the story +of their enchantment, and not only the King but all the Birds of +Paradise present listened intently to her words. + +When she had finished the King exclaimed: + +"Indeed, my dear child-larks, you are worthy to be our guests in +fairyland. So it will please me if you will be as happy and comfortable +as possible, and enjoy your stay with us as much as you can. My people +will delight to honor and amuse you, and Ephel shall continue to guide +you wherever you go." + +"Thank you," returned Twinkle, earnestly; and Chubbins added, in his +blunt way: "Much obliged." + +"But, before you go," continued his Majesty, "tell me what you think of +my royal person. Am I not beautiful?" + +"You are, indeed," replied Twinkle; "only--" + +"Only what?" asked the King, as she hesitated. + +"Only I'm sorry you are so vain, and strut around so, and want everyone +to see how beautiful you are." + +"Why should I not? Is not vanity one of the great virtues?" asked the +King, in a surprised voice. + +"My mama says people ought not to think themselves nice, or pretty," +said the child. "With us, to be vain is a fault, and we are taught to +be modest and unassuming." + +"How remarkable!" exclaimed the King. "And how very thoughtless your +mother must be. Here we think that if God creates us beautiful it is a +sin not to glory in His work, and make everyone acknowledge the kindly +skill of the Supreme Maker's hand. Should I try to make others think, +or should I myself think, that I am not most gracefully formed and most +gorgeously clothed, I would be guilty of the sin of not appreciating +the favor of God, and deserve to be punished." + +Twinkle was amazed, but could find no words to contradict this +astonishing idea. + +"I had not thought of it in that way," she answered. "Perhaps I am +wrong, your Majesty; and certainly you are very beautiful." + +"Think it over," said the King, graciously. "Learn to be grateful for +every good thing that is yours, and proud that you have been selected +by Nature for adornment. Only in this way may such rare favors be +deserved. And now the royal Messenger will show you the sights of our +Paradise, and try to entertain you pleasantly while you are our +guests." + +He turned aside, with these words, and fluttered his waving feathers so +that their changing tints might dazzle the eyes of all observers. But +immediately afterward he paused and cried out: + +"Dear me! One of my wing plumes is disarranged. Help me, you ladies!" + +At once the small brown birds on the lower branches, who had been +modestly quiet because they had no gay plumage, flew up to the King and +with their bills skillfully dressed his feathers, putting the wing +plume into its place again and arranging it properly, while the other +birds looked on with evident interest. + +As the lark-children turned away to follow the Messenger Chubbins +remarked: + +"I'm glad _I_ haven't got all those giddy feathers." + +"Why?" asked Twinkle, who had been rather awed by the King's splendor. + +"Because it would take all my time to keep 'em smooth," answered the +boy. "The poor King can't do much more than admire himself, so he don't +get time to have fun." + + + +[CHAPTER XIV] _A Real Fairyland_ + +As they left the royal arbor of white flowers the Messenger turned to +the left and guided his guests through several bright and charming +avenues to a grove of trees that had bright blue bark and yellow +leaves. Scattered about among the branches were blossoms of a delicate +pink color, shaped like a cup and resembling somewhat the flower of the +morning-glory. + +"Are you hungry?" asked Ephel. + +"Oh, I could eat something, I guess," said Chubbins. + +The Messenger flew to one of the trees and alighted upon a branch where +three of the pink, cup-shaped flowers grew in a row. The children +followed him, and sitting one before each blossom they looked within +the cups and found them filled with an unknown substance that both +looked and smelled delicious and appetizing. + +"It is royal amal," said their guide, busily pecking at his cup with +his bill. "Help yourselves, little ones. You will find it very nice +indeed." + +"Well," said Twinkle, "I'd be glad to eat it if I could. But it +wouldn't do Chubbins and me a bit of good to stick our noses into these +cups." + +Ephel turned to look at them. + +"True," he remarked; "it was very careless of me to forget that you +have no bills. How are you accustomed to eat?" + +"Why, with spoons, and knives and forks," said the girl. + +"You have but to ask for what you need," declared the royal Messenger. + +Twinkle hesitated, scarcely knowing what to say. At last she spoke +boldly: "I wish Chub and I had spoons." + +Hardly had the words left her lips when two tiny golden spoons appeared +in the flower-cups. Twinkle seized the spoon before her in one claw and +dipped up a portion of the strange food, which resembled charlotte +russe in appearance. When she tasted it she found it delicious; so she +eagerly ate all that the blossom contained. + +When she looked around for Chubbins she found he was gone. He had +emptied his cup and carried the golden spoon to another blossom on a +higher limb, where the girl discovered him eating as fast as he could +dip up the food. + +"Let us go to another tree," said Ephel. "There are many excellent +things to eat, and a variety of food is much more agreeable than +feasting upon one kind." + +"All right," called Chubbins, who had succeeded in emptying the second +cup. + +As they flew on Twinkle said to the guide: + +"I should think the blossoms would all be emptied in a little while." + +"Oh, they fill up again in a few moments," replied Ephel. "Should we go +back even now, I think we would find them all ready to eat again. But +here are the conona bushes. Let us taste these favorite morsels." + +The bushes on which they now rested had willow-green branches with +silver balls growing thickly upon them. Ephel tapped lightly upon one +of the balls with his bill and at once it opened by means of a hinge in +the center, the two halves of the ball lying flat, like plates. On one +side Twinkle found tiny round pellets of cake, each one just big enough +to make a mouthful for a bird. On the other side was a thick substance +that looked like jelly. + +"The proper thing to do," said their guide, "is to roll one of the +pellets in the jelly, and then eat it." + +He showed Twinkle how to do this, and as she had brought her golden +spoon with her it was easy enough. Ephel opened a ball for Chubbins and +then one for himself, and the children thought this food even nicer +than the first they had eaten. + +"Now we will have some fruit," declared the Messenger. He escorted his +charges to an orchard where grew many strange and beautiful trees +hanging full of fruits that were all unknown to the lark-children. They +were of many odd shapes and all superbly colored, some gleaming like +silver and gold and others being cherry-red or vivid blue or royal +purple in shade. A few resembled grapes and peaches and cherries; but +they had flavors not only varied and delicious but altogether different +from the fruits that grow outside of the Birds' Paradise. + +Another queer thing was, that as fast as the children ate one fruit, +another appeared in its place, and they hopped from branch to branch +and tree to tree, trying this one and that, until Chubbins exclaimed: + +"Really, Twink, I can't eat another mouthful." + +"I'm afraid we've both been stuffing ourselves, Chub," the girl +replied. "But these things taste so good it is hard to stop at the +right time." + +"Would you like to drink?" asked Ephel. + +"If you please," Twinkle answered. + +"Then follow me," said the guide. + +He led them through lovely vistas of wonderful trees, down beautiful +winding avenues that excited their admiration, and past clusters of +flowering plants with leaves as big as umbrellas and as bright as a +painter's palette. The Paradise seemed to have been laid out according +to one exquisite, symmetrical plan, and although the avenues or paths +between the trees and plants led in every direction, the ground beneath +them was everywhere thickly covered with a carpet of magnificent +flowers or richly tinted ferns and grasses. This was because the birds +never walked upon the ground, but always flew through the air. + +Often, as they passed by, the flowers would greet them with sweet songs +or choruses and the plants would play delightful music by rubbing or +striking their leaves against one another, so that the children's ears +were constantly filled with harmony, while their eyes were feasted on +the bewildering masses of rich color, and each breath they drew was +fragrant with the delicious odors of the blossoms that abounded on +every side. + +"Of all the fairylands I've ever heard of or read about," said Twinkle, +"this certainly is the best." + +"It's just a peach of a fairyland," commented Chubbins, approvingly. + +"Here is the nectar tree," presently remarked the royal Messenger, and +he paused to allow them to observe it. + +The tree was all of silver--silver trunk and branches and leaves--and +from the end of each leaf or branch dripped sparkling drops of a +pink-tinted liquid. These glistened brightly as they fell through the +air and lost themselves in a bed of silver moss that covered all the +ground beneath the tree. + +Ephel flew to a branch and held his mouth open so that a drop from +above fell into it. Twinkle and Chubbins followed his example, and +found the pink liquid very delightful to drink. It seemed to quench +their thirst and refresh them at the same time, and when they flew from +the queer dripping tree they were as light-hearted and gay as any two +children so highly favored could possibly have felt. + +"Haven't you any water in your paradise?" asked the little girl-lark. + +"Yes, of course," Ephel answered. "The fountain-lilies supply what +water we wish to drink, and the Lustrous Lake is large enough for us +all to bathe in. Besides these, we have also the Lake of Dry Water, for +you must know that the Lustrous Lake is composed of wet water." + +"I thought all water was wet," said Chubbins. + +"It may be so in your country," replied the Royal Messenger, "but in +our Paradise we have both dry and wet water. Would you like to visit +these lakes?" + +"If you please," said Twinkle. + + + +[CHAPTER XV] _The Lake of Dry Water_ + +They flew through the jewelled gardens for quite a way, emerging at +last from among the trees to find before them a pretty sheet of water +of a greenish hue. Upon the shore were rushes that when swayed by the +breeze sang soft strains of music. + +"This," announced their guide, "is the Lake of Dry Water." + +"It _looks_ wet, all right," said Chubbins, in a tone of doubt. + +"But it isn't," declared Ephel. "Watch me, if you please." + +He hovered over the lake a moment and then dove downward and +disappeared beneath the surface. When he came up again he shook the +drops of water from his plumage and then flew back to rejoin his +guests. + +"Look at me," he said. "My feathers are not even damp." They looked, +and saw that he spoke truly. Then Chubbins decided to try a bath in the +dry water, and also plunged into the lake. When he came to the surface +he floated there for a time, and ducked his head again and again; but +when he came back to the others not a hair of his head nor a feather of +his little brown body was in the least moist. + +"That's fine water," said the boy-lark. "I suppose you Birds of +Paradise bathe here all the time." + +"No," answered Ephel; "for only wet water is cleansing and refreshing. +We always take our daily baths in the Lustrous Lake. But here we +usually sail and disport ourselves, for it is a comfort not to get wet +when you want to play in the water." + +"How do you sail?" asked Twinkle, with interest. + +"I will show you," replied their guide. + +He flew to a tall tree near, that had broad, curling leaves, and +plucked a leaf with his bill. The breeze caught it at once and wafted +it to the lake, so that it fell gently upon the water. + +"Get aboard, please," called Ephel, and alighted upon the broad surface +of the floating leaf. Twinkle and Chubbins followed, one sitting in +front of their guide and one behind him. Then Ephel spread out his +wings of white and orange, and the breeze pushed gently against them +and sent the queer boat gliding over the surface of the dry water. + +"Sometimes, when the wind is strong," said the Royal Messenger, "these +frail craft upset, and then we are dumped into the water. But we never +mind that, because the water is dry and we are not obliged to dress our +feathers again." + +"It is very convenient," observed Twinkle, who was enjoying the sail. +"Could one be drowned in this lake?" + +"I suppose an animal, like man, could, for it is as impossible to +breathe beneath dry water as it is beneath wet. But only birds live +here, and they cannot drown, because as soon as they come to the +surface they fly into the air." + +"I see," said Twinkle, musingly. + +They sailed way across the lake, and because the wind was gentle they +did not upset once. On reaching the farther shore they abandoned the +leaf-boat and again took wing and resumed their flight through the +avenues. + +There was a great variety of scenery in the Paradise, and wherever they +went something new and different was sure to meet their view. + +At one place the avenue was carpeted with big pansies of every color +one could imagine, some of them, indeed, having several colors blended +together upon their petals. As they passed over the pansies Twinkle +heard a chorus of joyous laughter, and looking downward, she perceived +that the pansies all had faces, and the faces resembled those of happy +children. + +"Wait a minute," she cried to Chubbins and the guide, and then she flew +downward until she could see the faces more plainly. They smiled and +nodded to the girl-lark, and laughed their merry laughter; but when she +spoke to them Twinkle found they were unable to answer a single word. + +Many of the faces were exceedingly beautiful; but others were bold and +saucy, and a few looked at her with eyes twinkling with mischief. They +seemed very gay and contented in their paradise, so Twinkle merely +kissed one lovely face that smiled upon her and then flew away to rejoin +her companions. + + + +[CHAPTER XVI] _The Beauty Dance_ + +Before long they came to another and larger sheet of water, and this +Twinkle decided was the most beautiful lake she had ever seen. Its +waters were mostly deep blue in color, although they had a changeable +effect and constantly shifted from one hue to another. Little waves +rippled all over its surface, and the edges of the waves were +glistening jewels which, as they scattered in spray and fell into the +bosom of the lake, glinted and sparkled with a thousand flashing +lights. Here were no rushes upon the shore, but instead of them banks +of gorgeous flowers grew far down to the water's edge, so that the last +ones dipped their petals into the lake itself. + +Nestling upon this bank of flowers the Royal Messenger turned to his +companions and said: + +"Here let us rest for a time, while I call the friendly fishes to +entertain you." + +He ended his speech with a peculiar warble, and at its sound a score of +fishes thrust their heads above the surface of the water. Some of them +were gold-fish and some silver-fish, but others had opal tints that +were very pretty. Their faces were jolly in expression and their eyes, +Chubbins thought, must be diamonds, because they sparkled so brightly. + +Swimming softly here and there in the lovely waters of the Lustrous +Lake, the fishes sang this song: + + "We are the fishes of the lake; + Our lives are very deep; + We're always active when awake + And quiet when asleep. + + "We get our fins from Finland, + From books we get out tales; + Our eyes they come from Eyerland + And weighty are our scales. + + "We love to flop and twist and turn + Whenever 'tis our whim. + Yet social etiquette we learn + Because we're in the swim. + + "Our beds, though damp, are always made; + We need no fires to warm us; + When we swim out we're not afraid, + For autos cannot harm us. + + "We're independent little fish + And never use umbrellas. + We do exactly as we wish + And live like jolly fellows." + +As the fishes concluded their song they leaped high into the air and +then plunged under the water and disappeared, and it was hard to tell +which sparkled most brilliantly, their gold and silver bodies or the +spray of jewels they scattered about them as they leaped. + +"If you should dive into this lake," said Ephel the Messenger, "your +feathers would be dripping wet when you came out again. It is here we +Birds of Paradise bathe each morning, after which we visit the Gleaming +Glade to perform our Beauty Dance." + +"I should like to see that glade," said Twinkle, who was determined to +let nothing escape her that she could possibly see. + +"You shall," answered Ephel, promptly. "We will fly there at once." + +So he led the way and presently they entered a thicker grove of trees +than any they had before noticed. The trunks were so close together +that the birds could only pass between then in single file, but as they +proceeded in this fashion it was not long before they came to a +circular space which the child-lark knew at once must be the Gleaming +Glade. + +The floor was of polished gold, and so bright that as they stood upon +it they saw their forms reflected as in a mirror. The trees surrounding +them were also of gold, being beautifully engraved with many attractive +designs and set with rows of brilliant diamonds. The leaves of the +trees, however, were of burnished silver, and bore so high a gloss that +each one served as a looking-glass, reproducing the images of those +standing in the glade thousands of times, whichever way they chanced to +turn. + +The gleam of these mirror-like leaves was exceedingly brilliant, but +Ephel said this radiance was much stronger in the morning, when the +rosy glow of the atmosphere was not so powerful. + +"Then," said he, "the King Bird and all the Nobility of Paradise, who +rejoice in the most brilliant plumage, come here from their bath and +dance upon the golden floor the Beauty Dance, which keeps their blood +warm until the feathers have all dried. While they dance they can +admire their reflections in the mirrors, which adds greatly to their +pleasure." + +"Don't they have music to dance by?" asked Chubbins. + +"Of course," the Messenger replied. "There is a regular orchestra that +plays exquisite music for the dance; but the musicians are the female +Birds of Paradise, who, because their plumage is a modest brown, are +not allowed to take part in the Beauty Dance." + +"I think the brown birds with the soft gray breasts are just as pretty +as the gaily clothed ones," said Twinkle. "The male birds are too +bright, and tire my eyes." + +Ephel did not like this speech, for he was very proud of his own +gorgeous coloring; but he was too polite to argue with his guest, so he +let the remark pass. + +"You have now witnessed the most attractive scenes in our favored +land," he said; "but there are some curious sights in the suburbs that +might serve to interest you." + +"Oh! have you suburbs, too?" she asked. + +"Yes, indeed. We do not like to come into too close contact with the +coarse, outer world, so we have placed the flying things that are not +birds midway between our Paradise and the great forest. They serve us +when we need them, and are under our laws and regulations; but they are +so highly favored by being permitted to occupy the outer edge of our +glorious Paradise that they willingly obey their masters. After all, +they live happy lives, and their habits, as I have said, may amuse you. + +"Who are they?" enquired Chubbins. + +"Come with me, and you shall see for yourselves." + +They flew away from the grove of the Gleaming Glade and Ephel led them +by pleasant routes into a large garden with many pretty flowers in it. +Mostly it was filled with hollyhocks--yellow, white, scarlet and +purple. + + + +[CHAPTER XVII] _The Queen Bee_ + +As they approached they heard a low, humming sound, which grew louder +as they advanced and aroused their curiosity. + +"What is it?" asked Twinkle, at last. + +Ephel answered: "It is the suburb devoted to the bees." + +"But bees are not birds!" exclaimed Twinkle. + +"No; as I have told you, the suburbs contain flying things that cannot +be called birds, and so are unable to live in our part of the Paradise. +But because they have wings, and love all the flowers and fruits as we +do ourselves, we have taken them under our protection." + +Ephel perched upon a low bush, and when the child-larks had settled +beside him he uttered a peculiar, shrill whistle. The humming sound +grew louder, then, and presently hundreds of great bees rose above the +flower tops and hovered in the air. But none of them approached the +bush except one monstrous bumble-bee that had a body striped with black +and gold, and this one sailed slowly toward the visitors and alighted +gracefully upon a branch in front of them. + +The bee was all bristling with fine hairs and was nearly half as big as +Twinkle herself; so the girl shrank back in alarm, and cried: + +"Oh-h-h! I'm afraid it will sting me!" + +"How ridiculous!" answered the bee, laughing in a small but merry +voice. "Our stings are only for our enemies, and we have no enemies in +this Paradise; so we do not use our stingers at all. In fact, I'd +almost forgotten I had one, until you spoke." + +The words were a little mumbled, as if the insect had something in its +mouth, but otherwise they were quite easy to understand. + +"Permit me to introduce her Majesty the Queen Bee," said their guide. +"These, your highness, are some little child-larks who are guests of +our King. I have brought them to visit you." + +"They are very welcome," returned the Queen Bee. "Are you fond of +honey?" she asked, turning to the children. + +"Sometimes," replied Chubbins; "but we've just eaten, and we're chock +full now." + +"You see," the Queen remarked, "my people are all as busy as bees +gathering the honey from every flower." + +"What do you do with it?" asked Twinkle. + +"Oh, we eat part of it, and store up the rest for a rainy day." + +"Does it ever rain here?" enquired Chubbins. + +"Sometimes, at night, when we are all asleep, so as to refresh and +moisten the flowers, and help them to grow." + +"But if it rains at night, there can't be any rainy days," remarked +Twinkle; "so I can't see the use of saving your honey." + +"Nor can I," responded the Queen, laughing again in her pleasant way. +"Out in the world people usually rob us of our stores, and so keep us +busy getting more. But here there are not even robbers, so that the +honey has been accumulating until we hardly know what to do with it. We +have built a village of honeycombs, and I have just had my people make +me a splendid palace of honey. But it is our way to gather the sweet +stuff, whether we need it or not, so we have to act according to our +natures. I think of building a mountain of honey next." + +"I'd like to see that honey palace," said Twinkle. + +"Then come with me," answered the Queen Bee, "for it will give me +pleasure to show it to you." + +"Shall we go?" asked the girl-lark, turning to Ephel. + +"Of course," he returned. "It is quite a wonderful sight, and may +interest you." + +So they all flew away, the Queen Bee taking the lead, and passed +directly over the bed of flowers with its swarm of buzzing, busy bees. + +"They remind me of a verse from 'Father Goose,'" said Twinkle, looking +curiously but half fearfully at the hundreds of big insects. + +"What is the verse?" asked the Queen. + +"Why, it goes this way," answered the girl: + + "'A bumble-bee was buzzing on a yellow hollyhock + When came along a turtle, who at the bee did mock, + Saying "Prithee, Mr. Bumble, why make that horrid noise? + It's really distracting, and every one annoys." + + "'"I'm sorry," said, quite humble, the busy droning bee, + "The noise is just my bumble, and natural, you see. + And if I didn't buzz so I'm sure that you'll agree + I'd only be a big fly, and not a bumble-bee."'" + +"That is quite true," said the bee, "and describes our case exactly. +But you should know that we are not named 'bumblebees' by rights, but +'Humble Bees.' The latter is our proper name." + +"But why 'humble?'" asked Twinkle. + +"Because we are common, work-a-day people, I suppose, and not very +aristocratic," was the reply. "I've never heard why they changed our +name to 'bumble,' but since you recited that verse I imagine it is on +account of the noise our wings make." + +They had now passed over the flower beds and approached a remarkable +village, where the houses were all formed of golden-yellow honey-combs. +There were many pretty shapes among these houses, and some were large +and many stories in height while others were small and had but one +story. Some had spires and minarets reaching up into the air, and all +were laid out into streets just like a real village. + +But in the center stood a great honey-comb building with so many gables +and roofs and peaks and towers that it was easy to guess it was the +Queen Bee's palace, of which she had spoken. + +They flew in at a second-story window and found themselves in a big +room with a floor as smooth as glass. Yet it was composed of man +six-sided cells filled with honey, which could be seen through the +transparent covering. The walls and roof were of the same material, and +at the end of the room was a throne shaped likewise of the honey cells, +like everything else. On a bench along the wall sat several fat and +sleepy-looking bumble-bees, who scarcely woke up when their queen +entered. + +"Those are the drones," she said to her visitors. "It is useless to +chide them for their laziness, because they are too stupid to pay +attention to even a good scolding. Don't mind them in any way." + +After examining the beautiful throne-room, they visited the sleeping +chambers, of which there were many, and afterward the parlors and +dining-room and the work-rooms. + +In these last were many bees building the six-sided pockets or cells +for storing the honey in, or piling them up in readiness for the return +of those who were gathering honey from the flowers. + +"We are not really honey-bees," remarked the Queen; "but gathering +honey is our chief business, after all, and we manage to find a lot of +it." + +"Won't your houses melt when it rains?" asked Twinkle. + +"No, for the comb of the honey is pure wax," the Queen Bee replied. +"Water does not melt it at all." + +"Where do you get all the wax?" Chubbins enquired. + +"From the flowers, of course. It grows on the stamens, and is a fine +dust called pollen, until we manufacture it into wax. Each of my bees +carries two sacks, one in front of him, to put the honey in, and one +behind to put the wax in." + +"That's funny," said the boy-lark. + +"I suppose it may be, to you," answered the Queen, "but to us it is a +very natural thing." + + + +[CHAPTER XVIII] _Good News_ + +Ephel and the children now bade the good-natured Queen Bee good-bye, +and thanked her for her kindness. The Messenger led them far away to +another place that he called a "suburb," and as they emerged from a +thick cluster of trees into a second flower garden they found the air +filled with a great assemblage of butterflies, they being both large +and small in size and colored in almost every conceivable manner. + +Twinkle and Chubbins had seen many beautiful butterflies, but never +such magnificent ones as these, nor so many together at one time. Some +of them had wings fully as large as those of the Royal Messenger +himself, even when he spread them to their limit, and the markings of +these big butterfly wings were more exquisite than those found upon the +tail-feathers of the proudest peacocks. + +The butterflies paid no attention to their visitors, but continued to +flutter aimlessly from flower to flower. Chubbins asked one of them a +question, but got no reply. + +"Can't they talk?" he enquired of Ephel. + +"Yes," said the Messenger, "they all know how to talk, but when they +speak they say nothing that is important. They are brainless, silly +creatures, for the most part, and are only interesting because they are +beautiful to look at. The King likes to watch the flashes of color as +they fly about, and so he permits them to live in this place. They are +very happy here, in their way, for there is no one to chase them or to +stick pins through them when they are caught." + +Just then a chime of bells tinkled far away in the distance, and the +Royal Messenger listened intently and then said: + +"It is my summons to his Majesty the King. We must return at once to +the palace." + +So they flew into the air again and proceeded to cross the lovely +gardens and pass through the avenues of jewelled trees and the fragrant +orchards and groves until they came at last to the royal bower of white +flowers. + +The child-larks entered with their guide and found the gorgeous King +Bird of Paradise still strutting on his perch on the golden bush and +enjoying the admiring glances of his courtiers and the ladies of his +family. He turned as the children entered and addressed his Messenger, +saying: + +"Well, my dear Ephel, have you shown the strangers all the sights of +our lovely land?" + +"Most of them, your Majesty," replied Ephel. + +"What do you think of us now?" asked the King, turning his eyes upon +the lark-children. + +"It must be the prettiest place in all the world!" cried Twinkle, with +real enthusiasm. + +His Majesty seemed much pleased. "I am very sorry you cannot live here +always," he said. + +"I'm not," declared Chubbins. "It's too pretty. I'd get tired of it +soon." + +"He means," said Twinkle, hastily, for she feared the blunt remark +would displease the kindly King, "that he isn't really a bird, but a +boy who has been forced to wear a bird's body. And your Majesty is wise +enough to understand that the sort of life you lead in your fairy +paradise would be very different from the life that boys generally +lead." + +"Of course," replied the King. "A boy's life must be a dreadful one." + +"It suits me, all right," said Chubbins. + +The King looked at him attentively. + +"Would you really prefer to resume your old shape, and cease to be a +bird?" he asked. + +"Yes, if I could," Chubbins replied. + +"Then I will tell you how to do it," said the King. "Since you told me +your strange story I have talked with my Royal Necromancer, who knows a +good deal about magic, and especially about that same tuxix who +wickedly transformed you in the forest. And the Royal Necromancer tells +me that if you can find a tingle-berry, and eat it, you will resume +your natural form again. For it is the one antidote in all the world +for the charm the tuxix worked upon you." + +"What _is_ a tingle-berry?" asked Twinkle, anxiously, for this +information interested her as much as it did Chubbins. + +"I do not know," said the King, "for it is a common forest berry, and +never grows in our paradise. But doubtless you will have little trouble +in finding the bush of the tingle-berry when you return to the outside +world." + +The children were both eager to go at once and seek the tingle-berry; +but they could not be so impolite as to run away just then, for the +King announced that he had prepared an entertainment in their honor. + +So they sat on a branch of the golden bush beside their friend Ephel, +while at a nod from the King a flock of the beautiful Birds of Paradise +flew into the bower and proceeded to execute a most delightful and +bewildering set of aerial evolutions. They flew swiftly in circles, +spirals, triangles, and solid squares, and all the time that they +performed sweet music was played by some unseen band. It almost dazzled +the eyes of the child-larks to watch this brilliant flashing of the +colored wings of the birds, but the evolutions only lasted for a few +minutes, and then the birds flew out again in regular ranks. + +Then the little brown lady-birds danced gracefully upon the carpet, +their dainty feet merely touching the tips of the lovely flowers. +Afterward the flowers themselves took part, and sang a delightful +chorus, and when this was finished the King said they would now indulge +in some refreshment. + +Instantly a row of bell-shaped blossoms appeared upon the golden bush, +one for each bird present, and all were filled with a delicious ice +that was as cold and refreshing as if it had just been taken from a +freezer. Twinkle and Chubbins asked for spoons, and received them +quickly; but the others all ate the ices with their bills. + +The King seemed to enjoy his as much as any one, and Twinkle noticed +that as fast as a blossom was emptied of its contents it disappeared +from the branch. + +The child-larks now thanked the beautiful but vain King very earnestly +for all his kindness to them, and especially for telling them about the +tingle-berries; and when all the good-byes had been exchanged Ephel +flew with them back to the tree where they had left the Guardian of the +Entrance and their faithful comrade, Policeman Bluejay. + + + +[CHAPTER XIX] _The Rebels_ + +They were warmly greeted by the bluejay, who asked: + +"Did you enjoy the wonderful Paradise?" + +"Very much, indeed," cried Twinkle. "But we were sorry you could not be +with us." + +"Never mind that," returned the policeman, cheerfully. "I have feasted +my eyes upon all the beauties visible from this tree, and my good +friend the Guardian has talked to me and given me much good advice that +will surely be useful to me in the future. So I have been quite +contented while you were gone." + +The children now gave their thanks to Ephel for his care of them and +polite attention, and the Royal Messenger said he was pleased that the +King had permitted him to serve them. They also thanked the green-robed +Guardian of the Entrance, and then, accompanied by Policeman Bluejay, +they quitted the golden tree and began their journey back to the +forest. + +It was no trouble at all to return. The wind caught their wings and +blew against them strongly, so that they had but to sail before the +breeze and speed along until they were deep in the forest again. Then +the wind moderated, and presently died away altogether, so that they +were forced to begin flying in order to continue their journey home. + +It was now the middle of the afternoon, and the policeman said: + +"I hope all has been quiet and orderly during my absence. There are so +many disturbing elements among the forest birds that I always worry +when they are left alone for many hours at a time." + +"I'm sure they have behaved themselves," returned Twinkle. "They fear +your power so much that the evil-minded birds do not dare to offend you +by being naughty." + +"That is true," said the policeman. "They know very well that I will +not stand any nonsense, and will always insist that the laws be +obeyed." + +They were now approaching that part of the forest where they lived, and +as the policeman concluded his speech they were surprised to hear a +great flutter of wings among the trees, and presently a flock of big +black rooks flew toward them. + +At the head of the band was a saucy-looking fellow who wore upon his +head a policeman's helmet, and carried under his wing a club. + +Policeman Bluejay gave a cry of anger as he saw this, and dashed +forward to meet the rooks. + +"What does this mean, you rascal?" he demanded, in a fierce voice. + +"Easy there, my fine dandy," replied the rook, with a hoarse laugh. +"Don't get saucy, or I'll give you a rap on the head!" + +The rooks behind him shrieked with delight at this impudent speech, and +that made the mock policeman strut more absurdly than ever. + +The bluejay was not only astonished at this rebellion but he was +terribly angry as well. + +"That is my policeman's helmet and club," he said sternly. "Where did +you get them?" + +"At your nest, of course," retorted the other. "We made up our minds +that we have had a miserable bluejay for a policeman long enough; so +the rooks elected me in your place, and I'm going to make you birds +stand around and obey orders, I can tell you! If you do as I command, +you'll get along all right; if you don't, I'll pound you with your own +club until you obey." + +Again the rooks screamed in an admiring chorus of delight, and when the +bluejay observed their great numbers, and that they were all as large +as he was, and some even larger and stronger, he decided not to risk an +open fight with them just then, but to take time to think over what had +best be done. + +"I will call the other birds to a meeting," he said to the rook, "and +let them decide between us." + +"That won't do any good," was the reply. "We rooks have decided the +matter already. We mean to rule the forest, after this, and if any one, +or all of the birds, dare to oppose us, we'll fight until we force them +to serve us. Now, then, what do you intend to do about it?" + +"I'll think it over," said Policeman Bluejay. + +"Oho! oho! He's afraid! He's a coward!" yelled the rooks; and one of +them added: + +"Stand up and fight, if you dare!" + +"I'll fight your false policeman, or any one of you at a time," replied +the bluejay. + +"No, you won't; you'll fight us all together, or not at all," they +answered. + +The bluejay knew it would be foolish to do that, so he turned away and +whispered to the lark-children: + +"Follow me, and fly as swiftly as you can." + +Like a flash he darted high into the air, with Twinkle and Chubbins +right behind him, and before the rooks could recover from their +surprise the three were far away. + +Then the big black birds gave chase, uttering screams of rage; but they +could not fly so swiftly as the bluejay and the larks, and were soon +obliged to abandon the pursuit. + +When at last he knew that they had escaped the rooks, Policeman Bluejay +entered the forest again and went among the birds to call them all to a +meeting. They obeyed the summons without delay, and were very indignant +when they heard of the rebellion of the rooks and the insults that had +been heaped upon their regularly elected officer. Judge Bullfinch +arrived with his head bandaged with soft feathers, for he had met the +rook policeman and, when he remonstrated, had been severely pounded by +the wicked bird's club. + +"But what can we do?" he asked. "The rooks are a very powerful tribe, +and the magpies and cuckoos and blackbirds are liable to side with +them, if they seem to be stronger than we are." + +"We might get all our people together and fall upon them in a great +army, and so defeat them," suggested an oriole. + +"The trouble with that plan," decided the judge, "is that we can only +depend upon the smaller birds. The big birds might desert us, and in +that case we would be badly beaten." + +"Perhaps it will be better to submit to the rooks," said a little +chickadee, anxiously. "We are neither warriors nor prizefighters, and +if we obey our new rulers they may leave us in peace." + +"No, indeed!" cried a linnet. "If we submit to them they will think we +are afraid, and will treat us cruelly. I know the nature of these +rooks, and believe they can only be kept from wickedness by a power +stronger than their own." + +"Hear me, good friends," said the bluejay, who had been silent because +he was seriously thinking; "I have a plan for subduing these rebels, +and it is one that I am sure will succeed. But I must make a long +journey to accomplish my purpose. Go now quietly to your nests; but +meet me at the Judgment Tree at daybreak to-morrow morning. Also be +sure to ask every friendly bird of the forest to be present, for we +must insist upon preserving our liberty, or else be forever slaves to +these rooks." + +With these words he rose into the air and sped swiftly upon his errand. + +The other birds looked after him earnestly. + +"I think it will be well for us to follow his advice," said Judge +Bullfinch, after a pause. "The bluejay is an able bird, and has had +much experience. Besides, we have ever found him just and honorable +since the time we made him our policeman, so I feel that we may depend +upon him in this emergency." + +"Why, it is all we can do," replied a robin; and this remark was so +true that the birds quietly dispersed and returned to their nests to +await the important meeting the next morning. + + + +[CHAPTER XX] _The Battle_ + +Twinkle and Chubbins flew slowly home to their nests in the maple tree, +pausing to ask every bird they met where tingle-berries grew. But none +of them could tell. + +"I'm sorry we did not ask Policeman Bluejay," said Chubbins. + +"I intended to ask him, but we hadn't time," replied Twinkle. "But he +will be back to-morrow morning." + +"I wonder what he's going to do," remarked the boy. + +"Don't know, Chub; but it'll be the right thing, whatever it is. You +may be sure of that." + +They visited the nest of the baby goldfinches, and found the Widow +Chaffinch still caring for the orphans in her motherly way. The little +ones seemed to be as hungry as ever, but the widow assured the +lark-children that all five had just been fed. + +"Did you ever hear of a tingle-berry?" asked Twinkle. + +"Yes; it seems to me I have heard of that berry," was the reply. "If I +remember rightly my grandmother once told me of the tingle-berries, and +warned me never to eat one. But I am quite certain the things do not +grow in our forest, for I have never seen one that I can recollect." + +"Where do they grow, then?" enquired Chubbins. + +"I can't say exactly where; but if they are not in the forest, they +must grow in the open country." + +The child-larks now returned to their own nest, and sat snuggled up in +it during the evening, talking over the day's experiences and the +wonderful things they had seen in the fairy-like Paradise of the Birds. +So much sight-seeing had made them tired, so when it grew dark they +fell fast asleep, and did not waken until the sun was peeping over the +edge of the trees. + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed the girl, "we shall be late at the meeting +at the Judgment Tree. Let's hurry, Chub." + +They ate a hasty breakfast from the contents of their basket, and after +flying to the brook for a drink and a dip in the cool water they +hurried toward the Judgment Tree. + +There they found a vast assemblage of birds. They were so numerous, +indeed, that Twinkle was surprised to find that so many of them +inhabited the forest. + +But a still greater surprise was in store for her, for immediately she +discovered sitting upon the biggest branch of the tree twenty-two +bluejays, all in a row. They were large, splendidly plumaged birds, +with keen eyes and sharp bills, and at their head was the children's +old friend, the policeman. + +"These are my cousins," he said to the child-larks, proudly, "and I +have brought them from another forest, where they live, to assist me. I +am not afraid of the foolish rooks now, and in a moment we shall fly +away to give them battle." + +The forest birds were all in a flutter of delight at the prompt arrival +of the powerful bluejays, and when the word of command was given they +all left the tree and flew swiftly to meet the rooks. + +First came the ranks of the twenty-two bluejays, with the policeman at +their head. Then followed many magpies and cuckoos, who were too clever +to side with the naughty rooks when they saw the powerful birds the +bluejay had summoned to his assistance. After these flew the smaller +birds, of all descriptions, and they were so many and at the same time +so angry that they were likely to prove stubborn foes in a fight. + +This vast army came upon the rooks in an open space in the forest. +Without waiting for any words or explanations from the rebels, the +soldierly bluejays fell upon their enemies instantly, fighting fiercely +with bill and claw, while the other birds fluttered in the rear, +awaiting their time to join in the affray. + +Policeman Bluejay singled out the rook which had stolen his helmet and +club, and dashed upon him so furiously that the black rebel was amazed, +and proved an easy victim to the other's superior powers. He threw down +the club and helmet at once; but the bluejay was not satisfied with +that, and attacked the thief again and again, until the air was full of +black feathers torn from the rook's body. + +After all, the battle did not last long; for the rooks soon screamed +for mercy, and found themselves badly plucked and torn by the time +their assailants finally decided they had been punished enough. + +Like all blustering, evil-disposed people, when they found themselves +conquered they whined and humbled themselves before the victors and +declared they would never again rebel against Policeman Bluejay, the +regularly appointed guardian of the Law of the Forest. And I am told +that after this day the rooks, who are not rightly forest birds, betook +themselves to the nearest villages and farm houses, and contented +themselves with plaguing mankind, who could not revenge themselves as +easily as the birds did. + +After the fight Policeman Bluejay thanked his cousins and sent them +home again, and then the birds all surrounded the policeman and cheered +him gratefully for his cleverness and bravery, so that he was the hero +of the hour. + +Judge Bullfinch tried to make a fine speech, but the birds were too +excited to listen to his words, and he soon found himself without an +audience. + +Of course, Twinkle and Chubbins took no part in the fight, but they had +hovered in the background to watch it, and were therefore as proud of +their friend as any of the forest birds could be. + + + +[CHAPTER XXI] _The Tingle-Berries_ + +When the excitement of the morning had subsided and the forest was +quiet again, Policeman Bluejay came to the nest of the child-larks, +wearing his official helmet and club. You may be sure that one of the +first things Twinkle asked him was if he knew where tingle-berries +grew. + +"Of course," he replied, promptly. "They grow over at the north edge of +the forest, in the open country. But you must never eat them, my dear +friend, because they are very bad for birds." + +"But the Royal Necromancer of the King Bird of Paradise says the +tingle-berries will restore us to our proper forms," explained the +girl. + +"Oh; did he say that? Then he probably knows," said the bluejay, "and I +will help you to find the berries. We birds always avoid them, for they +give us severe pains in our stomachs." + +"That's bad," observed Chubbins, uneasily. + +"Well," said Twinkle, "I'd be willing to have a pain or two, just to be +myself again." + +"So would I, if it comes to that," agreed the boy. "But I'd rather have +found a way to be myself without getting the pain." + +"There is usually but one thing that will overcome an enchantment," +remarked the bluejay, seriously; "and if it is a tingle-berry that will +destroy the charm which the old tuxix put upon you, then nothing else +will answer the same purpose. The Royal Necromancer is very wise, and +you may depend upon what he says. But it is late, at this season, for +tingle-berries. They do not grow at all times of the year, and we may +not be able to find any upon the bushes." + +"Cannot we go at once and find out?" asked Twinkle, anxiously. + +"To be sure. It will grieve me to lose you, my little friends, but I +want to do what will give you the most happiness. Come with me, +please." + +They flew away through the forest, and by and by came upon the open +country to the north, leaving all the trees behind them. + +"Why, this is the place we entered the forest, that day we got +'chanted!" cried Twinkle. + +"So it is," said Chubbins. "I believe we could find our way home from +here, Twink." + +"But we can't go home like we are," replied the girl-lark. "What would +our folks say, to find us with birds' bodies?" + +"They'd yell and run," declared the boy. + +"Then," said she, "we must find the tingle-berries." + +The bluejay flew with them to some bushes which he said were the kind +the tingle-berries grew upon, but they were all bare and not a single +berry could be found. + +"There must be more not far away," said the policeman, encouragingly. +"Let us look about us." + +They found several clumps of the bushes, to be sure; but unfortunately +no berries were now growing upon them, and at each failure the children +grew more and more sad and despondent. + +"If we have to wait until the bushes bear again," Twinkle remarked, "it +will be nearly a year, and I'm sure we can't live in the forest all +winter." + +"Why not?" asked the policeman. + +"The food in our basket would all be gone, and then we would starve to +death," was the reply. "We can't eat bugs and worms, you know." + +"I'd rather die!" declared Chubbins, mournfully. + +The bluejay became very thoughtful. + +"If we could find some of the tingle bushes growing near the shade of +the forest," he said at last, "there might still be some berries +remaining on them. Out here in the bright sunshine the berries soon +wither and drop off and disappear." + +"Then let us look near the trees," suggested Twinkle. + +They searched for a long time unsuccessfully. It was growing late, and +they were almost in despair, when a sharp cry from Policeman Bluejay +drew the child-larks to his side. + +"What is it?" enquired the girl, trembling with nervous excitement. + +"Why," said the policeman, "here is a bush at last, and on it are +exactly two ripe tingle-berries!" + + + +[CHAPTER XXII] _The Transformation_ + +They looked earnestly at the bush, and saw that their friend spoke +truly. Upon a high limb was one plump, red berry, looking much like a +cranberry, while lower down grew another but smaller berry, which +appeared to be partially withered. + +"Good!" the lark-children cried, joyfully; and the next moment Chubbins +added: "You eat the big berry, Twink." + +"Why?" she asked, hesitating. + +"It looks as if it had more stomach-ache in it," he replied. + +"I'm not afraid of that," said she. "But do you suppose the little +berry will be enough for you? One side of it is withered, you see." + +"That won't matter," returned the boy-lark. "The Royal Necromancer said +to eat one berry. He didn't say a little or a big one, you know, or +whether it should be plump or withered." + +"That is true," said the girl-lark. "Shall I eat mine now?" + +"The sooner the better," Chubbins replied. + +"Don't forget me, little friend, when you are a human again," said +Policeman Bluejay, sadly. + +"I shall never forget you," Twinkle answered, "nor any part of all your +kindness to us. We shall be friends forever." + +That seemed to please the handsome blue bird, and Twinkle was so eager +that she could not wait to say more. She plucked the big, plump berry, +put it in her mouth with her little claw, and ate it as soon as +possible. + +In a moment she said: "Ouch! Oo-oo-oo!" But it did not hurt so badly, +after all. Her form quickly changed and grew larger; and while Chubbins +and Policeman Bluejay watched her anxiously she became a girl again, +and the bird's body with its soft gray feathers completely disappeared. + +As she felt herself changing she called: "Good-bye!" to the bluejay; +but even then he could hardly understand her words. + +"Good-bye!" he answered, and to Twinkle's ears it sounded like +"Chir-r-rip-chee-wee!" + +"How did it feel?" asked Chubbins; but she looked at him queerly, as if +his language was strange to her, and seemed to be half frightened. + +"Guess I'll have to eat my berry," he said, with a laugh, and proceeded +to pluck and eat it, as Twinkle had done. He yelled once or twice at +the cramp the fruit gave him, but as soon as the pain ceased he began +to grow and change in the same way his little comrade had. + +But not entirely. For although he got his human body and legs back +again, all in their natural size, his wings remained as they were, and +it startled him to find that the magic power had passed and he was +still partly a bird. + +"What's the matter?" asked Twinkle. + +"Is anything wrong?" enquired the bluejay. + +The boy understood them both, although they could not now understand +each other. He said to Twinkle: + +"I guess the berry wasn't quite big enough." Then he repeated the same +thing in the bird language to Policeman Bluejay, and it sounded to +Twinkle like: + +"Pir-r-r-r--eep--cheep--tweet!" + +"What in the world can you do?" asked the girl, quite distressed. "It +will be just dreadful if you have to stay like that." + +The tears came to Chubbins' eyes. He tried to restrain them, but could +not. He flapped his little wings dolefully and said: + +"I wish I was either one thing or the other! I'd rather be a child-lark +again, and nest in a tree, than to go home to the folks in this way." + +Policeman Bluejay had seen his dilemma at the first, and his sharp eyes +had been roving over all the bushes that were within the range of his +vision. Suddenly he uttered a chirp of delight and dashed away, +speedily returning with another tingle-berry in his bill. + +"It's the very last one there is!" said he to Chubbins. + +"But it is all that I want," cried the boy, brightening at once; and +then, regardless of any pain, he ate the berry as greedily as if he was +fond of a stomache-ache. + +The second berry had a good effect in one way, for Chubbins' wings +quickly became arms, and he was now as perfectly formed as he had been +before he met with the cruel tuxix. But he gave a groan, every once in +a while, and Twinkle suspected that two berries were twice as powerful +as one, and made a pain that lasted twice as long. + +As the boy and girl looked around they were astonished to find their +basket standing on the ground beside them. On a limb of the first tree +of the forest sat silently regarding them a big blue bird that they +knew must be Policeman Bluejay, although somehow or other he had lost +his glossy black helmet and the club he had carried underneath his +wing. + +"It's almost dark," said Twinkle, yawning. "Let's go home, Chub." + +"All right." + +He picked up the basket, and for a few minutes they walked along in +silence. + +Then the boy asked: + +"Don't your legs feel heavy, Twink?" + +"Yes," said she; "do yours?" + +"Awful," said he. + + + * * * * * * + + +L. FRANK BAUM'S +New Oz Book +IS +VERY OZZY + +The author of THE WIZARD OF OZ and FATHER GOOSE has answered thousands +of his little readers' letters by writing + +OZMA OF OZ + +This new story tells "more about Dorothy," as well as the famous +characters of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion and +something of several new creations equally delightful, including +Tiktok, the machine man, the Yellow Hen, the Nome King and the Hungry +Tiger. + +The former characters are beloved by multitudes of children and their +parents and the new ones, being thoroughly Baumesque, will find their +places in the hearts of all. + +ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN R. NEILL + +Forty-one full-page colored pictures; twenty-two half pages in color +and fifty black and white text pictures; special end sheets; title +page; copyright page, book plate, dedication page and table of +contents. + +8vo, 280 pages. Extra cloth binding, side and back stamping in four +colors. Uniform in size with The Land of Oz and John Dough and the +Cherub. + +Price, - - $1.25 + + + +THE LAND OF OZ +BY L. FRANK BAUM + +A SEQUEL TO THE WIZARD OF OZ + +The Land of Oz gives an account of the further adventures of the +Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, and introduces Jack Pumpkinhead, the +Animated Saw-Horse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug, the Gump and many +other delightful characters. + +Nearly 150 black and white illustrations and 16 full-page pictures in +colors by JOHN R. NEILL + +6vo, 300 pages. Uniform in size with Ozma of Oz. Handsomely bound in +cloth, stamped in three colors. Price, $1.25. + + * * * * * * + +JOHN DOUGH AND THE CHERUB +BY L. FRANK BAUM + +A whimsical tale portraying the exciting adventures of the Gingerbread +Man and his comrade, Chick the Cherub, in the "Palace of Romance," "The +Land of the Mifkets," "Hiland and Loland," etc. The book is +delightfully pictured by John R. Neill, illustrator of OZMA OF OZ and +THE LAND OF OZ. + +40 full-page colored pictures; 20 colored pictorial chapter headings; +100 black and white text pictures; special end sheets; title page, +copyright page, etc. + +8vo, 300 pages. Extra cloth binding, side and back stamping in three +colors. Price, $1.25. + + + +THE TWINKLE TALES +SIX CHARMING NEW STORIES FOR CHILDREN +BY LAURA BANCROFT + +Miss Bancroft has a delightful vein of humor of the quaint, sparkling +variety which readily appeals to children of all ages. Several critics +who have read _The Twinkle Tales_ favorably compare Miss Bancroft's +stories to Mr. Baum's works. + +For this series the clever artist, _Maginel Wright Enright_ has made +over one hundred special drawings admirably illustrating the text. The +pictures, all full page, are beautifully reproduced in many colors, +each book containing fifteen pictures and a decorated title page. The +bindings are of imported vellum stamped in four colors with striking +designs. + +_The Twinkle Tales_ are entertaining to read; splendidly illustrated; +beautiful in appearance; perfectly printed on fine paper; excellently +well bound. Price 50 cents per volume. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLICEMAN BLUEJAY*** + + +******* This file should be named 27951.txt or 27951.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/9/5/27951 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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