A POT-HUNTER'S DEFIANCE 69 



Eggs of a bird as valuable as any one of these 

 three species should never be taken, just as these 

 birds should never be shot. Shan knew nothing 

 of economic values. He was conscious of com- 

 plete satisfaction that at last he had a clutch of 

 Chuck- Will 's-Widow eggs for his collection. He 

 picked them up and was examining them intently 

 when suddenly he heard a harsh voice over his 

 shoulder : 



* * What are them eggs ? " ' 



Surprised, Shan turned round, to face the hard 

 gaze of the game warden. 



'^ Chuck- Will's-Widow, I reckon," the boy 

 answered, looking first at his questioner and then, 

 past him, at another man, a stocky figure dressed 

 in city clothing, who had been a few steps behind 

 on the path and was now coming forward.. 



''Put 'em back where yo' took 'em from!" or- 

 dered the game warden, curtly. 



Shan returned the man's gaze unflinchingly. 

 He recalled Bull Adam's attack on the alleged in- 

 justice of the game laws and all his uncle 's venom 

 found an echo in him. 



"I'm not going to !" he answered, defiantly. 



The game warden strode forward as though to 

 knock the eggs from the boy's hand, but the 



