168 A TRAGEDY IN THE MAPLE-TREE. 



away, as if to see what was going on, but the 

 master of the house flew at him so viciously 

 that he at once retired. 



On the afternoon of the second day he began 

 to try stratagem. After a longer absence than 

 usual he returned with a young-looking hen, 

 who seated herself demurely in plain sight, a 

 foot or two from the door. This did not please 

 the dame ; she thrust her head out for the first 

 time, and gave the stranger a piece of her 

 mind that caused her to fly away, although the 

 irate husband " talked back " to his wife in the 

 most insulting way. Then he seated himself 

 before the door and began to call ; a loud, pe- 

 culiar cry, quite different from that he had 

 been addressing to his mate. In a few moments 

 two young hens came near, and perched in 

 sight. Then he blustered before the nest, and 

 scolded more violently than ever, as if to show 

 that he was master of his own house ; but ex- 

 cept putting her head out and making a few re- 

 marks to the visitors, the spouse did nothing. 



The next stratagem was amusing. I suppose 

 the little tormentor thought his victim must be 

 hungry, for he flew away, and returned, labori- 

 ously carrying a piece of bread as big as his 

 head. With this he perched in his usual place, 

 and, instead of eating it himself, deliberately 

 dropped it to the ground, evidently to tantalize 



