THE HERON AS A TABLE- BIRD 1il 
Then he went out and left them staring into 
each other’s pale face. However, the painful task 
had to be performed, and they loyally went to 
work and plucked it, but in cleaning it received a 
shock at finding a trout about a foot in length in 
a semi-decomposed condition in its gullet. After 
refreshing themselves with sal- volatile and half 
an hour in the garden, they finished the hateful 
business by singeing it and pumping many gallons 
of water over its carcase, and then towards evening 
put it in the oven to roast or bake. The smell of 
it was very trying and not only made the kitchen 
atmosphere almost not to be borne but pervaded 
the whole house, causing them to look forward 
more and more apprehensively to the evening 
dinner. Still, they were determined to do every- 
thing to please their brother, and got out their 
best table-cloth and silver, flowers for decoration, 
and wine and coloured glasses; and the brother 
when he sat down smiled on them approvingly. 
Then the heron on a big dish was brought in, and 
the brother rose to carve it, and heaped their 
plates with generous slices of the lean black flesh, 
and helped himself even more generously. They 
having been helped first had to begin, but to put 
even the smallest morsel into their mouths was 
more than they could do. They pretended to cut 
and eat it while confining themselves to the 
vegetables on their plates. Their brother was not 
affected with such squeamishness and straightway 
started operations, and did honour to the heron 
