222 MYSTERIES OF THE MARSH 



opinions vehemently. " Caw ! caw ! " cried 

 one in a sneering tone, emphasizing each ut- 

 terance with an ironical bow, and " caw ! 

 caw ! " echoed the other with bow more in- 

 sulting and more profound than his comrade. 

 Their faces were toward me, could it be ? 

 was this a personal attention ? 



Before my anxiety became painful, it was 

 relieved. Upon no worm of the dust had they 

 cast their scornful eyes, but upon a monarch 

 of the air like themselves. A large hawk rose 

 from a neighboring tree, soared majestically 

 up toward the blue sky, and instantly the 

 two crows were upon him. Around and 

 around went the larger bird in great circles, 

 paying apparently no heed to his sable fol- 

 lowers, who carried out the tactics made fa- 

 miliar to them by the plucky little kingbird. 

 With great labor, much beating of wings, 

 and loud screams of war, the clumsy birds 

 rose above the hawk and then swooped down 

 toward him, as if to deal him a savage blow. 

 But they always missed him, and calmly the 

 hawk pursued his " trackless path " while the 

 baffled crows were carried far to one side. 

 Still, if they were not successful, they had 



