LITTLE PRISONERS IN THE TOWER. 77 



there fluffed up against its sides with the sun 

 slanting across, lighting up his pretty red cap. 

 He looked so contented and happy it was a pleas- 

 ure to watch him. Another time he started to 

 climb up on top of my head and, I dare say, was 

 surprised and disappointed when what he had 

 taken for a tree trunk came to an untimely end. 

 When we put the brothers on the grass, one of 

 them went over the ground with long hops, while 

 the other hid under the rocking-chair. One bird 

 seemed possessed to sit on the white apron worn 

 by the little girl's mother, flying over to it from 

 my lap, again and again. 



The woodpeckers had brought from the nest a 

 liking for dark, protected places. Bairdi twice 

 clambered up my hair and hung close under the 

 brim of my black straw hat. Another time he 

 climbed up my dress to my black tie and, fasten- 

 ing his claws in the silk, clung with his head 

 in the dark folds as if he liked the shade. I cov- 

 ered the pretty pet with my hand and he seemed 

 to enjoy it. When I first looked down at him his 

 eyes were open, though he kept very still ; but 

 soon his head dropped on my breast and he went 

 fast asleej), and would have had a good nap if 

 Jacob had not called and waked him up. 



Jacob improved so much after the first few 

 days — and some doses of red pepper — that we 

 had to look twice to tell him from his sturdy bro- 

 ther. He certainly ate enough to make him grow. 



