THE STORK 145 



while she was flying round and round through the smoke, 

 wondering how to reach it without getting crij)pled by 

 those leaping tongues of flame, the nest broke up and the 

 nestling fell through into the burning barn. 



Then her mother-love overcame her fear ; she plunged 

 down into the heat and smoke, got hold of her baby, and 

 brought it up in safety. She flew ofi^, and the fire burned 

 itself out. 



Next day, a wounded Stork fell to the ground, in the 

 market-place of Trebbin, a little town near by. She was 

 badly scorched about the legs, and the policeman who 

 found her carried her kindly into the guard-house. Here 

 a doctor was called in to examine her injuries, and the 

 burgomaster arranged for her to be comfortably lodged 

 and looked after. 



She proved to be the intrepid mother Stork of Lowen- 

 berg, and every one having heard the story of her heroic 

 act, wanted to show her kindness. The school children 

 spent their leisure time in hunting up food for her, and 

 many a fat frog was brought to her room. The burgo- 

 master himself came every day, to see that his town's new 

 guest was being properly cared for. 



Meanwhile, the father Stork found out where she was, 

 and came flying over daily to see her ; . the rest of the day 

 he was busy getting food for the two little homeless nest- 

 lings. In a fortnight her legs were so much better that 

 she was allowed to go free, and away she flew to join her 

 family. 



And now just a few words about the other members 

 of the clan, and I must bring this chapter to a close. 



First there is the BLACK STORK. He is a most 

 handsome bird, with his glossy purple and green back and 

 wings, and his snowy white breast, and red beak and legs. 



