84 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



got up very early in the morning and went to the lake 

 to try and get a trout for breakfast. About eight 

 o'clock he returned and finding his hostess down 

 proudly exhibited to her a magnificent trout he had 

 caught. He had not looked for such a big one, and 

 he would never forget catching this particular trout for 

 another reason. A wonderful thing had happened 

 when he hooked it. One of the swans was there on the 

 water, and followed the fish up when it was hooked, 

 and when he drew it to land the swan came out and 

 dashed at and attacked him with the greatest fury. 

 He had a good deal of trouble to beat her off ! " Oh, 

 what a pity ! " cried the lady. " You have killed the 

 poor swan's friend ! " 



From that time the swan was more unhappy than 

 ever ; the sight of it became positively painful to my 

 compassionate friends, and by-and-by hearing of an 

 acquaintance in another part of the country who wanted 

 a swan they sent it to him. 



