244 AN ANGLER AT LARGE 



in a very bad temper, and if there was one thing 

 it hated and despised it was the air. A more 

 tricky, unsubstantial stuff it had never, in all its 

 days, encountered. Rotten ! that was the word 

 for it. 



It stretched its scrawny little neck ; it seemed 

 to stand on tiptoe in order to be heard the better. 

 Not a doubt but it was seriously concerned about 

 itself, and very angry with its parents. These, 

 from neighbouring bushes, their voices harsh 

 with emotion, shrieked reproof, advice, gloomy 

 prophecy. The young one piped his sauce back 

 at them from the ground-level. 



" Oh ! " the mother was crying, very probably. 

 " Oh ! naughty child. I told you not to, you 

 know I did. How could you be so wilful and 

 headstrong ? This will break my heart." 



" Bother your heart," the chick seemed to make 

 answer. "I've pretty near broke my neck. What 

 a thud ! And it's all your fault, going away and 

 leaving me like that ! " 



Then the old cock would scream : " Don't you 

 dare to answer your mother so. I won't have 

 it, do you hear ? Conceited little fool ! I've no 

 patience with you. Look what a trouble you're 

 causing us. You and your half-inch wings ! " 

 He spread his own ample pinions and flew grace- 

 fully to another bush. 



