Downs and Dungeons 125 



mm up in the window. " By George, it's mur- 

 der they're at," he cried, as he saw a whirling, 

 screaming cloud of sparrows on the ground below 

 him, and their victim resigning himself to in- 

 evitable death. In a moment his pipe was on 

 the floor, and he himself was in the street. The 

 sparrows flew away swearing ; Lintie crouched 

 on the ground, a heap of dishevelled feathers. 



The student took him gently in his hand and 

 carried him into the house. 



" They'd all but done for him, the beggars," 

 he said to his friend. " I fancy he might come 

 round if we only knew what to do with him. I 



say, I wish you'd see whether M has gone 



home ; it's only just round in New Square, 

 you know the staircase. He'll like to see the bird 

 anyhow, and he can doctor it if he thinks it 

 worth while." 



The friend went out, grumbling but compliant, 

 and in five minutes returned with the Ornitho- 

 logist, keen-faced and serious. He took the bird 

 in his hand. 



" It's only a damaged cock linnet," he said at 

 once and decisively : " an escaped one, of course, 



