A TRAGEDY IN THE MAPLE-TREE. 167 



seize the citadel ; but that did not seem to be 

 his object. He stood on a branch before the 

 door, stretched his neck to look in, even some- 

 times alighted on the steps, but never once en- 

 tered. He seemed to intend to drive his mate 

 away, and prevent her from returning. To 

 this end, apparently, he seated himself so near 

 the door that he could not fail to seize her if 

 she tried to pass in. 



For a time the plotter was all attention : not 

 a rustle but he heard, not a moving leaf but he 

 saw it, and was on the alert. Now appeared 

 much cunning on the part of that imperturba- 

 ble dame. Not a sign of her could be seen, not 

 a sound heard ; she might be a mile away ; till, 

 growing careless, he turned to give his feathers 

 a peck, when instantly, from some hiding-place 

 in the tree, she swept around and into the door. 

 Then followed a wild flutter of wings, and he 

 flung himself in transport of rage against the 

 entrance, but she was safely within, and he had 

 a wholesome respect for her ability to defend 

 herself in her own nest. Even when he stood 

 in the very doorway, as he did later, she man- 

 aged to surprise him, and dash in over his head. 



I wondered that the neighbors did not inter- 

 fere, as sparrow neighbors are apt to do ; and 

 once or twice on this day a bird did approach 

 the scene of the trouble, perching a few feet 



