136 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 
thronged around in great numbers, and kept the boy 
actively employed to drive them off. So taking his gun, 
he went into the hut accompanied by the boy, and 
through some holes in the sides prepared to pour a volley 
on the invaders. But he reckoned without his host. 
The watchful sentinels seemed instinctively to divine the 
plot, their warning “caw” was loudly uttered, and the 
presence of the ambushed foe made known. They 
circled round and round and settled in the surround- 
ing fields, but not one of them would trust himself 
within gunshot of the hut. For some time the gentle- 
man waited in vain, and then sent the boy away with 
directions to walk straight out of the field; but this 
ruse did not succeed. The rooks still refused to “ come 
and be killed,” so he left the hut and followed the boy, 
but no sooner had he gone out of the gate of the field 
than the sentinels gave the signal, and scores of their 
fellows at once descended and commenced their foray. 
The sportsman determined not to be outwitted in this 
way, so he immediately took two persons with him into 
the hut and resumed his ambush, the rooks having taken 
fight on his reappearance. After a short time had 
elapsed he sent one of the persons away; and after 
another interval the second, expecting that as soon as 
they both left the field the rooks would return; but he 
was again doomed to disappointment; “beware” cawed 
the sentinels in the most sonorous tones, and none 
ventured to disregard the warning. Determined still 
further to test their powers of numeration, he again 
left the hut and returned with three persons, all four 
entering together. Again, one by one, the companions 
were sent away, and the plan was at last crowned with 
success ; the rooks could count as far as three, but four 
