THE LEGEND OF OPECHEE 51 



ing, then crouched to spring. For a wonder I 

 called, 4 Quick ! quick ! ' at the right moment, and 

 my mate immediately flew to me without looking 

 behind her. At the same time Tiger made a 

 leap, dragging the nest to the ground and break- 

 ing the egg. 



" We next tried your garden, for Johnny Wren 

 told us that the House People who lived there did 

 not keep cats, but only a bandy-legged Fourfoot, 

 who was so short and fat that he could not reach 

 up far, even to look into a nest." 



" Who ? What ? " barked Waddles, jumping up, 

 " Did Johnny Wren say that ? We won't let him 

 perch on our clothes poles to sing, any more, will 

 we, mistress ? " 



"I didn't mention names," the Robin hastened 

 to say, "though if ever you look at yourself in the 

 pond, you must see that you are both bandy and 

 very fat ! " And then the Robin could not under- 

 stand why he had only made matters worse by 

 the explanation. 



" We built the second nest on the end of a 

 well-protected pine branch. That night a soak- 

 ing rain drenched it through and through, making 

 it into a mud pie. The branch was too slender, 

 and the wet nest weighed it down, and then 

 dropped to the ground. Now we have a firm 



