6 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



of the door-steps -and windows below, so I thought if I put a 

 board all the way along beneath their nests it would do away 

 with the nuisance." 



" That is a clever idea, Jimmy ; but do you not think that 

 the swallows will build below the board next year. They will 

 think you put it there just on purpose for them." 



" I never thought of that, Frank," replied Jimmy, looking 

 rather blank ; " but now you mention it I think it is likely enough 

 they will ; " and by way of parenthesis I may say that next 

 spring the swallows and house-martins did build under the 

 new board in great numbers, and so frustrated Jimmy's plan 

 altogether. 



" What are you going to do with those axes and that rope, 

 Frank?" 



" Come and see ; but first finish your painting, while I go 

 in and see the grandmother." 



As the two boys walked off to the fir-copse, Frank told his 

 friend that he meant to cut down the tree, but he would not 

 tell him what it was that he wanted it for, and Jimmy's curiosity 

 was provoked to a great degree. 



When they reached the wood they proceeded to the tree 

 which Frank had marked, and Jimmy was sent up to fasten the 

 rope to the top of it. Then while Frank took off his coat and 

 applied the axe vigorously to the bottom of the tree, making 

 the chips fly in all directions, Jimmy took the other end of the 

 rope over the fence, and kept a steady pull upon it. At last 

 the tree began to creak and groan, and then fell over with a 

 crash. Jimmy then took the other axe, and the two began to 

 lop off the branches. This was a long job, and when it was 

 finished they were very warm and tired, and sat down to rest 

 for a while on the fallen tree. 



A clicking and cracking sound in the wood about them now 

 became audible to their quick ears. It might have been 

 heard before had it not been drowned by the noise of the 

 axes. They looked up, and to their great delight they saw a 

 small flock of birds larger than a green linnet, and with 

 plumage of red, brown, and yellow. They were flitting about 

 the fir-trees, cutting off the fir-cones with their bills, and then 

 holding them on the branches with their claws, and cracking 

 them, and picking out the seeds, producing at the same time 

 the noise which had attracted the attention of the boys. 



