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The Hair Tree

are you going to do with it? You do not eat zirbal nuts.”

“I mean to keep it as a curiosity,” answered the sailor.

“But what use will that be?” croaked the bird; “will you not give it to me?”

“No, I can’t do that,” said Rupert; “you must be content with what you've got.”

“In my nest at home,” said the eagle, “I have seven little eaglets, and you have only given me six nuts to take to them. Will you not give me your other nut to take to my youngest little eaglet?”

On hearing this the sailor fingered the nut in his pocket and looked at the bird, and was just going to give it to him, when Trevina laid her hand on his arm to stop him, and turning to the eagle said,—

“It is no use your asking for the nut, for he will not give it to you. I know quite well that you have no little eaglets at home, that it is all false, and that you only say it to get the nut from him.”

Then the eagle turned, and, giving one fearful shriek, rose into the air and flew

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