Old White Wing 287 
White Wing rose high in the air and gave a warning 
caw. The others at first obeyed and scattered, but 
the temptation was too great, and in a short time a 
dozen crows were feeding. Others followed, and soon 
Old White Wing himself was among them, his sense 
of danger being, for the moment, overpowered by 
the pangs of hunger. 
Two sharp reports and the air was full of shot! A 
third and fourth followed for those birds which had 
taken wing. Then all grew still. 
The little side door of the barn opened and two 
men appeared. There was a look of satisfaction on 
their faces as they gloated over the fifteen birds killed 
and wounded. Some of the latter had broken wings 
and legs, and were going off over the snow in different 
directions, even in this hour of peril obeying the teach- 
ings of their great leader and making a last heroic 
struggle for their lives. They were soon overtaken, 
however, and a blow on the head from a stick ended 
their efforts. 
Among the wounded was Old White Wing. With 
renewed energy he attempted to escape, but, alas! 
the one who had saved so many lives was now power- 
less to save his own. A well directed blow left with- 
out a leader the flock he had guarded and cared for 
so long. 
