98 More Tales of the Birds 



ledge the nest had been placed ; once on the 

 ledge, a clever climber might mount the tree, but 

 to get there was no easy matter, and a fall from 

 the tree or ledge would be almost certain 

 death. 



The human creature began to move along the 

 top of the fortress towards its rocky face above 

 the river ; he had heard the Baroness's answering 

 cry, and had attained his object. He knew now 

 where the nest must be ; and peeping over the 

 edge, he soon made it out in the still almost 

 leafless oak. He surveyed his ground carefully 

 and then vanished for an hour or two ; and the 

 Baron, who had not yet told his wife, felt a faint 

 gleam of hope, which increased as the rain began 

 to sweep down the lonely valley, hiding the 

 fortress in swirls of mist, while now and then 

 a cold blast rushed up from below, shaking the 

 oak to its very roots. 



But late in the afternoon, wrapped in a 

 macintosh, and carrying a bag, the minister of 

 evil again appeared upon the hill-top ; and now 

 the Baron gave full vent to his anger and 

 distress, calling loudly to his wife. She left the 



