136 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 



thronged around in great numbers, and kept the boy 

 actively employed to drive them off. So taking his gun, 

 he went into the hut accompanied by the boy, and 

 through some holes in the sides prepared to pour a volley 

 on the invaders. But he reckoned without his host. 

 The watchful sentinels seemed instinctively to divine the 

 plot, their warning "caw" was loudly uttered, and the 

 presence of the ambushed foe made known. They 

 circled round and round and settled in the surround- 

 ing fields, but not one of them would trust himself 

 within gunshot of the hut. For some time the gentle- 

 man waited in vain, and then sent the boy away with 

 directions to walk straight out of the field ; but this 

 ruse did not succeed. The rooks still refused to " come 

 and be killed," so he left the hut and followed the boy, 

 but no sooner had he gone out of the gate of the field 

 than the sentinels gave the signal, and scores of their 

 fellows at once descended and commenced their foray. 

 The sportsman determined not to be outwitted Jn this 

 way, so he immediately took two persons with him into 

 the hut and resumed his ambush, the rooks having taken 

 flight on his reappearance. After a short time had 

 elapsed he sent one of the persons away; and -after 

 another interval the second, expecting that a,s soon as 

 they both left the field the rooks would return ; but he 

 was again doomed to disappointment ; " beware" cawed 

 the sentinels in the most sonorous tones, and none 

 ventured to disregard the warning. Determined still 

 further to test their powers of numeration, he again 

 left the hut and returned with three persons, all four 

 entering together. Again, one by one, the companions 

 were sent away, and the plan was at last crowned with 

 success ; the rooks could count as far as three, but four 



