102 More Tales of the Birds 



dark, and there's not a moment to be lost. You 

 do as I tell you, and put 'em straight back, 

 all of them, as they were. We've got the 

 rent." 



At these last words, Tom seized the rope 

 again, and in a minute was once more on the 

 ledge below. His father watched him from the 

 top, pretty confident in his son's powers of 

 climbing. There was no need for anxiety : the 

 good deed was done even quicker than the bad 

 one ; and Tom, puzzled but obedient, stood safe 

 and sound once more by his father's side. 



As they went back to the little inn down the 

 valley in the drizzling rain, the story of the 

 cheque was told ; and nothing remained but to 

 make sure that the Kites returned to their nest. 

 Armed with a field-glass they climbed next day 

 another hill, and lying there on the top, they 

 watched the fortress long and anxiously. When 

 they left the inn that afternoon on their home- 

 ward journey, the old dealer's heart was light. 

 The Baron and the Baroness had not forsaken 

 their treasures ; and it may be that after all they 

 will not be the last of their race. 



