the sky, for these free rangers to come down 

 to the little bay where his clipped wings 

 held him captive; but they were ever wary 

 of the cruel gunner. Now he would go to 

 them. 



His bosom heaved with a vague longing 

 for a wider sphere than the little seaside 

 hamlet. He was weary with belligerent en- 

 counters with its denizens, biped and quad- 

 ruped. Why not look down upon the world 

 at large ? With that he called after the 

 north-bound flock in a changed voice, and 

 vaulted higher and higher. 



"Now, Mister, you can see the gratitude 

 o' that old feller. Our gun is in the bottom 

 o' the sea another one o' his confounded 

 capers. Blame take him! we haven't been 

 able to get nigh him to clip his wings this 

 spring, and he doesn't mean we shall, 

 neither. " And they gazed indignantly after 

 Billy Honks, clear cut, with wide-spread 

 pinions, against the northern glow. 



"Now, boys, it isn't so bad as it might 

 have been, all things considered. You might 

 have hit old Billy when you didn't mean to, 

 or me either for that matter, and if you can 

 dive like ducks, as I've seen you do for a 



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