OF A FLEDGLING 245 



" That's right "from the chick. " Show off, do. 

 If you'd talked a little less about the ease of flying, 

 I shouldn't be here. And now, what are you going 

 to do about it ? I can't go on like this. It's 

 precious cold and you know my chest isn't strong. 

 And it looks like rain, and I'm starving. Hang it ! 

 can't you do something, one of you ? " 



" Get under a leaf," begged the mother. " And 

 come away from that man and woman. I can't 

 feed you while they're about." 



" A pretty mother, you are ! Where's your 

 maternal instinct ? Frightened of these two people, 

 are you ? Well I'm not. They look all right. 

 I'll show you." 



He swaggered insolently towards my wife's foot 

 with intimidating cries. She moved it that he 

 might advance. 



" There ! What did I say ? The woman can't 

 face me" 



"The cat," shrieked the mother, "the yellow 

 cat'll get you. I always said you'd come to a bad 

 end." 



" So did I." This was from the father. I think 

 the memory comforted him. 



The mention of the yellow cat set me thinking. 

 Hitherto I had been content to listen to what they 

 were saying, for it was so essentially of the situation. 

 Now it seemed to be getting time to act. This 



