Tbe Witchery of Wa-Wa 9 



get hunk hunk!" Then he rejoined the 

 troop and led the way to a field fully a mile 

 distant. 



" My dear," said his wife, that evening, as they 

 rocked side by side on the baby waves of the little 

 lake, " I don't wish to bother you, or to meddle in 

 any way, yet I would like to ask you a straight 

 question, What's wrong with you to-day ? " 



By way of answer Wa-Wa hissed savagely and 

 drove his snaky head into a curling ripple. Then 

 he said, " There's nothing particular the matter 

 you wouldn't understand if I told you." 



" But, my dear ! " she persisted, " there is some- 

 thing the matter. You can't fool me I know you 

 too well. You're crusty and worried and and 



I believe-it's-all-about-that-man-in-the-field so 

 there ! " 



Wa-Wa hissed again and his small eyes blazed 

 with fury, but beyond a low rattle in his throat he 

 made no immediate answer. 



" Don't act so," she continued ; " it's unlike you. 

 Besides, I've really got to speak to you it's been 

 on my mind to do so for some time ; but you've led 

 us so long and so well, dear, that it almost breaks 

 my heart to say it, but I must ! Look out for that 

 man he'll do you an injury yet. Can't you see 

 that he comes nearer and nearer to doing it every 

 time ? Why ! that last time almost lamed Gozzie's 

 wing. It hurt the child and frightened her half to 

 death and you know, dear, such a thing never 

 happened before. I was thinking that p-e-r-h-a-p-s 

 we might go to some other place say the other 

 plains they're just as convenient, and it would 



