We reached the spot, tied Lightfoot to a neighbouring tree, and began
rapidly to fill the sack. As we were thus engaged, Knips sprang
suddenly into a bush close by, from which, a moment afterwards, issued
such strange cries that Ernest followed to see what could be the
matter.
`Come!' he shouted, `Come and help me! I've got a couple of birds and
their eggs. Quick! Ruffed grouse!'
We hurried to the spot. There was Ernest with a fluttering, screaming
bird in either hand; while, with his foot, he was endeavouring to
prevent his greedy little monkey from seizing the eggs. We quickly tied
the legs of the birds, and removing the eggs from the nest, placed them
in Ernest's hat; while he gathered some of the long, broad grass, with
which the nest was woven, and which grew luxuriantly around, for Franz
to play at sword-drill with.
We then loaded the onager with the acorns and moved homewards. The eggs
I covered carefully with dry moss, that they might be kept warm, and as
soon as possible I handed them over to my wife who managed the mother
so cleverly that she induced her to return to the eggs, and in a few
days, to our great delight, we had fifteen beautiful little Canadian
chicks.
Franz was greatly pleased with the 'swords' his brother brought him;
but having no small companion on whom to exercise his valour, he amused
himself for a short time in hewing down imaginary foes, and then cut
the reeds in slips, and plaited them to form a whip for Lightfoot.
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