THE COCKATOO. 97 



He steals from tree to tree, and bush to bush, in 

 the same noiseless manner ; but, with all his care, 

 he cannot escape the watchful eye of the sentinel 

 birds. The flock takes alarm, and flies to the tree 

 nearest the water, getting close together, and as 

 if aware that some danger is near. 



At length the native comes close to the water's 

 edge, and the Cockatoos see him plainly. They 

 utter loud cries, and spring into the air as if to 

 escape. Now is the time for the native to draw 

 his kiley, or spear, from his belt. He flings it 

 with violence, and it flies from his hand as if about 

 to touch the surface of the water. But it does 

 not do so. It spins upwards in a wonderful manner, 

 and darts through the air, making all kinds of turns 

 and twists, in each of which it is sure to strike a 

 Cockatoo. 



The weapon, when flung in this manner, seems 

 for the moment to be alive ; and the more the 

 frightened birds try to escape, the more they seem 

 to come in its way. Many of them fall with loud 

 screams to the ground. 



But the native is not satisfied. He knows the 



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