THE ROOKS THAT WOULDN'T QUIT. 0:3 



It being then the season of the year when these 

 birds were busily employed in repairing and making 

 their nests, the keeper's platooning had as yet 

 failed to produce the desired effect of ejectment, 

 the birds still persisting — late at night, and very 

 early in the morning — to ply their calling. The 

 unhappy wight of plush and velveteen was at his 

 post as usual under the trees, fusee in hand, when 

 the Squire appeared on the spot. The wayward 

 rooks might be seen flitting here and there at a 

 respectful distance, and their hoarse cawing still 

 heard as if in defiance of their enemies. By the 

 walk and manner of my companion, I could plainly 

 perceive that a storm was brewing, and about to 

 burst over the head of his devoted servant. Call- 

 ing him by name, the man quickly approached, 

 with all due humility, hat in hand, before his im- 

 perious master. 



Squire, loquitor. — "I thought I told you to 

 dislodge those rooks immediately." 



Servant. — " Yes, sir, I know you did, and I have 

 been shooting at them, sir, day and night, almost, 

 sir, ever since you gave the orders, sir ; but they 

 won't leave the place, sir." 



Squire. — " Then ^ou shall, sir, if in two days 

 from this time there is another rook to be seen in 

 these trees." 



