THE CROW. 13 



stead of flying overhead when Bruno looked back, 

 Jim would steal the bone the puppy had been 

 gnawing. 



The crow was happy as long as any one woidd 

 play with him, and never tired of flying low over 

 the ground with a string dangling from his bill for 

 the children to run after. Another favorite play 

 was to hold on to a string or small stick with his 

 bill while some one lifted him up by it, as a baby 

 is tossed by its arms. He would even hold on and 

 let you " swing him around your head." He was 

 never daunted, and when the toddling two-year- 

 old would get too rough in her play and strike at 

 him with her stick, he would either catch the hem 

 of her pinafore and hold on till she ran away, or 

 would try scaring her, rushing at her his big 

 black wings spread out and his bill wide open. 



One day his pluck was thoroughly tested. 

 Hearing loud caws of distress coming from the 

 lawn, the gardener rushed across and found Jim 

 lying on his back, his claw tightly gripping the 

 end of one of the wings of a large hawk, that, 

 surprised and terrified by this turn of the tables 

 was struggling frantically to get away. Jim held 

 him as tight as a vise, and only loosened his grasp 

 to give his enemy into the gardener's hands. After 

 letting go he submitted to the victor's reward, let- 

 ting his wounds be examined and his bravery ex- 

 tolled while he was carried about wearing a 

 most consciously heroic air, it must be confessed 

 for due celebration of the victory. 



