ll over at this exclamation of her boy friend. She clung
to Neale's jacket sleeve, whispering:

"Oh, dear me! Let's not speak to him! Come, Neale! let's run. I--I am
_so_ ashamed about those strawberries."

"Step on that furderinest wing, young feller," said the big, old man to
Neale. "He's dead--jest as dead as though he'd laid there a year. He's
jest a-kickin' like a old rooster with his head off. Don't _know_ he's
dead, that's all. Step on that wing; it'll keep him from thrashin'
hisself to pieces," added the farmer, as Neale O'Neil obeyed him.

The girls looked on in awe. Tom Jonah stood by, panting, his tongue out
and his plume waving proudly.

"That's a great dog," said Mr. Bob Buckham.

"And---- Why, hullo, son! you used to work for us, didn't you?"

"Yes, Mr. Buckham," replied Neale.

"Ho, ho!" shouted the bushy-headed old man, spying Lycurgus and Sue
coming from the edge of the woods. "I beat ye to it that time, Lycurgus.
And what was little Sissy doing out there where the old eagle could git
his eye on her? I swow! if it hadn't been for the dog, mebbe the eagle
would ha' pecked her some--eh?"

"The eagle would have carried her off--the poor little thing," said
Ruth, indignantly.

"No!" exclaimed Mr. Buckham.

"I believe it would, sir," Neale said.

"And that isn't the worst of it," went on the wrought up Corner House
girl.

"What ain't the worst of it, miss?" asked the farmer.

"That poor little thing was sent out there by her father to attract the
eagle."

"What?" roared Bob Buckham, his great face turning red with anger and
his deep-set eyes flashing. "You mean to tell me he set little Sissy for
eagle bait?"

He strode forward to meet Lycurgus Billet, leaving the dead bird behind
him. The chagrined hunter smiled a sickly smile as big Bob Buckham
approached.

"The old gun went back on me that time--she sure did, Bob," Billet said.
"I would ha' got that critter, else. Hullo! what's the matter?"

For the farmer reached out a ham-like hand and seized the wiry Lycurgus
by the shoulder, and shook him.

"Hey! what you doin'?" the smaller man repeated.

"I've a mind to shake the liver-lights out'n you, Lycurgus Billet!"
declared the farmer. "To send little Sissy out to be eagle bait fer ye!
I--I--That's the worst I ever heard of!"

"Say!" sputtered Lycurgus. "What d'ye mean? I 'spected ter shoot the
critter, didn't I?"

"But ye didn't."

"Just the same she warn't hurt. Air you, Sue?" de