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126 THE WHITE HERONS

huddled closely together in the nest, both sob- bing quietly. They were terrified at being left alone, and were too weak to look over the edge of the nest for their brothers. So they lay side by side and waited patiently. And when dark- ness settled down over the big bush, and the night birds called in the distance, and still their brothers had not returned, the two poor babies felt as if their hearts would break.

“Oh, mummy, mummy, why did you leave us!” sobbed Fluffy.

“Tt wasn’t mummy’s fault,” wept Downy, “it was all because of that cruel, wicked man. He wanted her beautiful plumes.”

“Oh, I hate him, I hate him!” cried Fluffy, her anger giving her strength for a moment. Then her voice died down, and grew weaker and weaker, as she wept piteously “mummy, mummy, come back!”

Her sister joined in the cry, and for a few moments the little voices wailed out on the night air; then all was silent.

And away in the city the man was proudly showing the white plumes which he had robbed from the mother’s back.

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