1 8 THE LAND'S END 



" Red herring," suggests the other. 



" Nonsense ! I know that smell well enough. But 

 I grant you it's just a little like it, only what shall I 

 say ? this is a thicker sort of smell." 



" I'll just have another good sniff," says the second 

 bird. " H'm ! I wonder if it's some very old pil- 

 chards they've found stowed away in some corner ? " 



" No," says the first bird, pulling his head out of 

 the smoke and blinking his wicked little grey eyes. 

 " It isn't pilchards. Just one more sniff. I've got it ! 

 A very old piece of dry salted conger they're broiling 

 on the coals." 



" By Jove, you're right this time ! It is a good 

 thick smell ! I only wish I could drop down the flue, 

 snatch up that bit of conger, and get clear away 

 with it." 



" You'd soon have a jolly lot of jacks after you, I 

 fancy. Hullo ! what are those fellows making such 

 a to-do about down there on that chimney-pot ? 

 Let's go and find out." 



And away they fly, to drop down and fight for 

 places among the others. 



