THE NEST IN THE OLD OAK 107 



attacked it, and made a scanty meal, but 

 it kept them going for another two days, 

 then the frost went, and the floods came, 

 and they had enough and to spare. 



With the first call of spring they went 

 to their old nest in the oak. It was 

 still there, although dilapidated with the 

 winter storms, and about the middle of 

 March they set to work to repair it. It 

 took them a long time, for they did 

 not hurry. While the weather continued 

 warm they kept at their work, but as 

 soon as a cold change came, all work 

 at the nest ceased. By the second week 

 of April the nest was ready, and then a 

 great tragedy came into their lives. The 

 farmer had for a long time been watch- 

 ing the birds, and one afternoon, while 

 they were far away, he cunningly hid 

 himself by a tree on which they usually 

 settled in the evening. It was after sun- 

 set when the birds flew towards him, 

 and before they settled two shots rang 



