hat_, sir," spoke up Tess.
"Aren't we, Dot?"

"Oh, yes!" agreed the smallest Corner House girl. "I thought poor Tom
Jonah was going to be carried right up in the air, and that the aigrets
would eat him!"

"The _what_ would eat him?" demanded the farmer, paying close attention
to what the little girls said, but puzzled enough at Dot's "association
of ideas."

Tess explained. "She means the young eagles. She expects the nest is
full of hungry little eagles. It would have been dreadful for Tom Jonah
to have been carried off just like a lamb. I've seen a picture of an
eagle carrying away a lamb in his claws."

"And many a one I reckon this big critter has stole," agreed the farmer.
"Right out of my own flock, perhaps. But your dog was too big a load for
him."

"Now, son," he added, briskly to Neale, "you give me a h'ist with the
bird. I'm going to take him home across my shoulders. Don't dare leave
him here for fear some varmint will git him. I'll send the carcass right
to town and have it stuffed." "Goodness!" murmured the startled Tess.
"You don't _eat_ eagles, do you, sir?"

"Ho, ho!" laughed the farmer. "No-sir-ree-sir! I mean we'll have the
skin stuffed. When Mr. Eagle is mounted, you'll see him looking down
from the top of that old corner cupboard of mine in the sittin'
room--you remember it, Neale?"

"Yes, sir," said Neale, as he helped lift the heavy bird to the farmer's
shoulders.

"What are you and these young ladies doin' around here to-day, Neale?"
asked Mr. Buckham.

Neale told him. "Got a team, have you?" said the farmer. "Then drive
right around to the house. You know the way, boy. I wanter git better
acquainted with these little gals," and he smiled broadly upon Tess and
Dot.

Ruth was doubtful. Agnes shook her head behind the old man's back and
pouted "No!"

"I see that dog's ear is torn," went on Mr. Buckham. "I wanter doctor it
a bit. These eagle's talons may be pizen as nightshade."

So Ruth politely thanked Mr. Bob Buckham and said they would drive to
his house. So near was the farmhouse, indeed, that Tess and Dot begged
to walk with the farmer and so be assured that Tom Jonah should have
"medical attention" immediately. Of course, the old dog would not leave
the children to go with the strange man alone.

"We can open the gates, too, for Mr. Buckham," said Tess.

"Run along, then, children," the eldest sister said. "We will soon drive
over with the chestnuts." Then she added rather