Jump to content

Page:Caine - An Angler at Large (1911).djvu/263

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
OF A FLEDGLING
245

"That's right"—from the chick. "Show off, do. If you'd talked a little less about the ease of flying, I shouldn't be here. And now, what are you going to do about it? I can't go on like this. It's precious cold and you know my chest isn't strong. And it looks like rain, and I'm starving. Hang it! can't you do something, one of you?"

"Get under a leaf," begged the mother. "And come away from that man and woman. I can't feed you while they're about."

"A pretty mother, you are! Where's your maternal instinct? Frightened of these two people, are you? Well I'm not. They look all right. I'll show you."

He swaggered insolently towards my wife's foot with intimidating cries. She moved it that he might advance.

"There! What did I say? The woman can't face me."

"The cat," shrieked the mother, "the yellow cat'll get you. I always said you'd come to a bad end."

"So did I." This was from the father. I think the memory comforted him.

The mention of the yellow cat set me thinking. Hitherto I had been content to listen to what they were saying, for it was so essentially of the situation. Now it seemed to be getting time to act. This