88 THE CARPENTER OB^ THE WOODS. 
was covered with pieces of plaster ; and a large 
hole had been pecked, that would very soon 
have gone through the wall, and let the bird 
at liberty. 
The traveller was, as you may suppose, 
very much vexed, as he would have to repair 
the damage. Still, he was anxious to keep 
his prisoner ; and having caught him, he tied 
a string round his leg, and fastened him to 
the table. He then went down stairs to find 
something for the bird to eat; and this time 
was not gone many minutes. As he came up 
again, his ears were greeted with a loud ham- 
mering noise, that told him the woodpecker 
was at work again. And he was at work to 
some purpose ; for in that little time he had 
made a hole through the mahogany table. 
The traveller was in despair, and almost 
thought of taking him back to the forest. 
But the woodpecker was in despair too, at 
not be able to get his liberty. He refused to 
take any food, and pined away and died. 
The same traveller made a second excursion 
through the woods ; and succeeded in catching 
another woodpecker of a rather smaller kind. 
He put it into a wicker cage, and hoped he 
