The Watchman of the Old Orchard 



"Of course I know him," declared Peter, his 

 face clearing. " Where is he now ?" * 



At that very instant a great racket broke out 

 on the other side of the Old Orchard and in no 

 time at all the feathered folks were hurrying from 

 every direction, screaming at the top of their voices. 

 Of course, Peter couldn't be left out of anything 

 like that, and he scampered for the scene of trouble 

 as fast as his legs could take him. When he got 

 there he saw Redtail the Hawk flying up and down 

 and this way and that way, as if trying to get away 

 from something or somebody. 



For a minute Peter couldn't think what was the 

 trouble with Redtail, and then he saw. A white- 

 throated, white-breasted bird, having a black cap 

 and back, and a broad white band across the end 

 of his tail, was darting at Redtail as if he meant 

 to pull out every feather in the latter's coat. 



He was just a little smaller than Welcome Robin, 

 and in comparison with him Redtail was a perfect 

 giant. But this seemed to make no difference to 

 Scrapper, for that is who it was. He wasn't afraid, 

 and he intended that everybody should know it, 

 especially Redtail. It is because of his fearless- 

 ness that he is called Kingbird. All the time he was 

 screaming at the top of his lungs, calling Redtail a 

 robber and every other bad name he could think of. 

 All the other birds joined him in calling Redtail 

 [47] 



