The Last of the Barons 99 



and joined him, wailing bitterly as she saw 

 ominous black figure standing but fifty feet 

 above her treasures. Round and round they 

 flew, anger and despair in their hearts. 



Tom Lee had not been overtaken by his 

 father's telegram ; it was he who stood there, 

 half sorry for the Kites, but with a youngster's 

 love of climbing, and a keen desire to see the 

 eggs. Now he fixed a short iron bar into the 

 ground at the top of the cliff, and to this he 

 fastened a stout rope. There would be just light 

 enough to do the deed that day, and to-morrow 

 he would travel home with the rent of one house 

 and the spoil of another in his bag. Taking off 

 his waterproof, and slinging on his shoulder a 

 small basket full of cotton-wool, he seized the 

 rope and let himself down it. As he hung in 

 raid-air he thought he heard a call on the hill, 

 and arriving safely on the ledge, he stood for a 

 moment and listened. There it was again, not 

 the Baron's angry cry, nor yet the Baroness's 

 wail. But there was no time to lose, and with 

 firm grasp of hand and foot he began to climb the 

 oak. The boughs were sound and strong; all 



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