140 



THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



he would do all in his power to turn out of his workshop (as 

 he called it) three good specimens of God's handiwork and his 

 own, and as far as in him lay he kept his vow. 



Saturday was a whole holiday, and as the boys met at the 

 boat-house to be ready for anything which might turn up, Bell 

 came to them and said, that while cutting the hay in a small 

 meadow which he rented, he had come upon a landrail or 

 corncrake, sitting on her eggs, and so close did she sit that he 

 had cut off her head with his scythe. The boys went to see 

 the nest and found eleven eggs in it, like those of the water- 



*s;v 



LANDRAIL OR CORNCRAKE. 



rail but larger. They were hard sat, which accounted for the 

 old bird remaining on her nest until the last; but the boys 

 knew how to blow hard-sat eggs, and took possession of them. 



Passing by Mrs. Brett's cottage they saw the old lady 

 beckoning to them. When they went to her she explained 

 that she wanted them to aid her swallows. A pair of house- 

 martins were flying about their nest in the eaves, uttering cries 

 of distress. 



" What is the matter ? Have the sparrows taken possession 

 of it ? " said Frank. 



