the instant, with the evident intention of 

 252 



hindering his flight as much as possible. 



They flapped their wings in his face; they 

 zig-zagged in front of him ; they attempted 

 Crow^ays ^^ ^^^^it on his back. In vain he twisted 

 and dodged and dropped Hke a stone. 

 Wherever he turned he found fluttering 

 wings to oppose his flight. The first object 

 of the game was apparent : he was trying to 

 reach the goal of pines opposite the hickory, 

 and the others were trying to prevent it. 

 Again and again the leader was lost to 

 sight; but whenever the sunlight flashed 

 from the bright thing he carried, he was 

 certain to be found in the very midst of a 

 clamoring crowd. Then the second object 

 was clear : the crows were trying to confuse 

 him and make him drop the talisman. 



They circled rapidly down the field and 

 back again, near the watcher. Suddenly the 

 bright thing dropped, reaching the ground 

 before it was discovered. Three or four 

 crows swooped upon it, and a lively scrim- 

 mage began for its possession. In the midst 

 of the struggle a small crow shot under the 



