Bannertail 



whisked in ahead of him, then, turning 

 suddenly, filled the doorway with her 

 countenance expressing defiance and hos- 

 tility, her sharp teeth menacingly dis- 

 played. She said as plainly as she could : 

 "You keep away; you are not wanted 

 here." 



And Bannertail, what could he do? 

 Hurt, rebuffed, not wanted in the house 

 he had made and loved, turned away 

 perforce and glumly sought his bachelor 

 home in the friendly old red oak. 



Whatever was the cause, Bannertail 

 knew that it was his part to keep away, 

 at least to respond to her wishes. Next 

 morning, after feeding, he swung to the 

 nesting tree. Yes, there she was on a 

 limb — but at once she retreated to the 

 door and repeated the signal, "You are 

 not wanted here." The next day it was 

 the same. Then on the third day she 

 was nowhere to be seen. Bannertail 



[94] 



