WILD LIFE ON THE WING 
him, hot and stifling, shutting out the sky, he 
thought that it was death, and collapsed limply 
under the folds. But when a chink gaped 
between collar and lapel for an instant, the 
wicked bill darted out and dented Hogan's boot. 
" Bedam ! he's a great fellow," chuckled the 
old man, stamping his tingling toe. 
The captive spent the night in the lean-to 
beside the cottage. Andy slept late the next 
morning, and was awakened by a lusty thresh- 
ing of wings outside. The furze which 
closed the lean-to was battered awry, and the 
fowls loitered outside. One strayed a little 
nearer, and instantly the heron struck through a 
chink, and missed his mark by a hair's-breadth ; 
the hen sprang away with a terrified squawk 
and Andy looked thoughtful. 
Later, he gave his captive a dish of water and 
a piece of bacon, but the heron rejected both. 
Even a frog failed to move him ; he turned a 
cold and apprehensive eye to all blandishments, 
and stood huddled in his corner until evening. 
It was dark in the lean-to when the cat crept 
in. It was a shock to her to meet the cold 
regard of the heron, and she spat softly. He 
was very still no bird that she had ever 
stalked had dared remain still under her eye 
for long, and she stole nearer. The heron's 
bill met her shoulder and drove her to the 
216 
