136 
OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
drown her in the basin in the cage. He 
found that there was no water left in the 
basin, and on searching, found that there was 
none in the house, — he must go to the spring 
and get some. 
Although he was seventeen years old, he 
was something of a coward, for all cruel and 
revengeful people always are, and he hardly 
liked to go to the spring alone in the night ; 
but his anger was so great against the bird, 
that it conquered his fears. So, taking the 
pail, and going out quietly so as not to 
awaken his parents, he proceeded to the 
spring. Spinnette followed behind him in 
the guise of a great wolf, and when he stooped 
to get the water, she seized him, with a ter- 
rible growl, and carried him off dumb with 
terror into the wood. 
As she was bearing him along, she called 
all the elves and fairies to follow her ; and, 
when she had reached the place in the forest 
known as the ^ Fairies’ Circle,’ she dropped 
him on the grass, and soon a crowd of sin- 
gular beings surrounded them. 
