i2 4 THE OUTLAW 



He was more mystified, then thought that 

 for some inexplicable reason the other rooks 

 had pecked them to death. But why ? 

 He was more puzzled as he thought. He 

 was well known for his puzzles. 



Looking up, he saw that the circle had 

 swung higher than ever. Gradually it 

 drifted away, silent. 



The journalist, who had some knowledge 

 of natural history and ornithology, returned 

 to London the next day and wrote the 

 incident up as a " news story." But he 

 could give no explanation. The editor was 

 sceptical ; said that it was no good. He 

 laughed, and mentioning that it was "punk," 

 promptly " spiked " it. 



Meanwhile something was about to happen 

 in London. 



It was half-past five on Saturday after- 

 noon. The journalist, who worked with a 

 newspaper that went to press on Saturday 

 night for publication on Sunday, was passing 

 St. Paul's Cathedral. He stopped to look 



