yo What Birds Have Done With Me 



a rain of cuffs from the strong hands of Long 

 Ben, as he was called. He did not have to be 

 told a second time to cut the bands that made 

 the small boy a prisoner and being on his knees, 

 he thought without suggestion, of the apology, 

 of which he made the small boy the recipient; 

 pronouncing it with something of the unction of 

 a divinity student, practicing the "have mercy 

 upon us, most miserable sinners." English Bone, 

 in the equally strong hands of his captor was also 

 treading the thorny path of repentance and resti- 

 tution. Mid a storm of "pitchforks and coals of 

 fire," he released his captives seemingly unhurt 

 and made five ascents of the white-oak, whence 

 they had been taken, to restore each one to its 

 home in the heart of the oak, secure from all 

 enemies except young pirates. The "little 

 Eatons" made good their escape so it was only 

 to Pete and Stub that the final riot act was read, 

 mild yanks and cuffs emphasizing important parts. 

 They readily promised never to play pirates 

 again, never to molest another bird's-nest, and 

 to do their utmost to break up all other piratical 

 gangs infesting the beautiful lake and the noble 

 forest, already set aside as the site of an institu- 

 tion of learning. They were then asked sepa- 

 rately and collectively, if they regarded them- 

 selves as soundly converted and answering in the 

 affirmative, their captors led them out to the 



