42 The Story of Scr aggies 



had my hiding-place. He thought it 

 was in that box, but he never did know. 

 So it was great fun once in a while to 

 slip away and hide, and then when I 

 was hungry suddenly pop out (without 

 his seeing me), run to his feet, chirp 

 and call, and say : " Here 's Scraggles, 

 as hungry as a hunter." Then he would 

 reach his hand down, lift me up to the 

 desk, and pretend to scold me : " Where 

 have you been, you naughty little bird ? 

 I Ve been hunting everywhere for you, 

 and could n't find you ! " But I would n't 

 let on. I 'd just peek at him, first out 

 of one eye and then out of the other, as 

 much as to ask : " Don't you wish you 

 knew?" 



