THE PEREGRINE FALCON 
Meanwhile the daws mustered upon the nave 
and, cackling and gabbling, threshed the matter 
out. A strange bird a very strange bird. Let 
them find out all about him ! Let him show his 
credentials. One, bolder than the rest, dropped 
to the sill of a belfry window and peeped down. 
" What-ho ? " he challenged interrogatively. 
The peregrine did not stir. Bolder, the in- 
quisitive one dropped again, sheering off from 
the niche. His fellows took courage from his 
hardihood, and wheeled round with jeer and 
foolish jest, daring him to strike. The pere- 
grine sat hunched, with closed eyes : he was 
weak with travel, and his vitality had dripped 
away from his flank before the feathers, clotting 
on the wound, had staunched the flow of blood. 
He wanted a full meal and peace for a few 
hours before he could face the world again. 
Sullenly he took wing and soared up, tilting 
now this van, now that, to win the lift of the 
wind. After him came the daws, daring one 
another to buffet him. They drew level with 
the slit-window of the spire. It was a dark, 
dusty harbourage, but his persecutors would 
not dare to follow him inside. He took refuge 
in it thankfully, and the jack'daws returned 
baffled to their fastnesses on the roof-tops. 
45 
