60 



THE GOLD HAMMER 



it was as much as 1 could do to keep myself poised on 

 the brancli; a few minutes after I made a false movement 

 and fell stu})idly down at the -foot of the tree. 



She burst out laughing — a short nervous laugh — 

 and after having stuffed her pockets with cherries, she 

 too came down. 



I was furious at myself, and we took our way home- 

 wards in almost perfect silence, ill-humoured ; while on 

 the outskirts of the wood the goldhammer was whistling 

 his song as if he were laughing at my silliness. 



