230 



THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



" Yes, when I was a lad I found two or three. The eggs 

 were good eating, so we took them, and as they were big eggs 

 and laid on the ground, it was easy enough to find their nests if 

 you knew where to look." 



" I suppose you haven't got any of their eggs now ? " said 

 Frank. 



"No, sir, I haven't; but I have a notion that two or three 



years ago I saw two or three of their eggs in a cottage somewhere 

 over yonder." 



He pointed to the western sky, but to the boys' eyes no 

 cottages were visible ; and upon their asking him for further 

 information, he told them that beyond a ridge of trees which 

 crested a warren were some half-dozen cottages, and he thought 

 it was in one of those that he had seen bustards' eggs, but he 

 was not at all sure. 



