THE OUTLAW 123 



many jet wings caused a vast soughing, 

 and the leaves below the trees rose and 

 flitter-fluttered with the winnowing. As 

 suddenly as it had begun, the outcry ceased. 

 Yet still the birds climbed higher. 



Soon they were just specks against the 

 blue, wheeling like a ring of smoke in one 

 great circle. Then the agitated cries came 

 again. One segment of the circle broke into 

 falling and diving, zooming and slipping, 

 birds, as though a strong wind had scattered 

 them every way. 



The journalist was mystified. He sat 

 down to watch, and to discover the reason. 



Two of the rooks had left the circle, and 

 were diving to earth. As they came nearer 

 he saw that their wings hung limp. They 

 fell a hundred yards away, and he ran over 

 to them. They were dead. 



Picking one up, it was warm, the sunlight 

 gleaming on the hues of its wings, glinting 

 green and purple. Their backs were bare of 

 feathers, and gaping with a terrible wound. 



