Downs and Dungeons 1 1 5 



unusual about the manner of the bird ; it was 

 high time that my wife should be fed. The 

 traitor called me to share the seed ; it was our 

 well-known call, and I answered it as I flew 

 down. For a moment I noticed nothing, and 

 was about to fly off when I saw that that bird 

 had a string round his leg, which came from 

 behind a little thorn-bush in front of the hedge 

 close by. I started, suspicious, and at that same 

 moment down came on the top of me a heavy 

 net, half stunning me, and a man came from 

 behind the bush and seized me. I struggled, 

 but it was no use. With a grimy hand he held 

 me fast and put me into a cage like this, and in 

 a cage I have existed ever since, without hope 

 or liberty or the power to sing as I used to." 



" What became of your mate and the eggs ? " 

 asked the Canary, interested for the first time 

 in his life in some one besides himself. 



"How should I know?" answered the Linnet. 

 " She could not well feed herself and hatch the 

 eggs. I don't wish to think about it, for she 

 is lost to me, and the Downs are lost to me, 

 and all is lost to me that made life worth 



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