o her; she has the arm of an Amazon," said Ralph,
enthusiastically.

"Humph!"

And having entered this, her standing protest, Fanny laughed, and
unwound the string from Redbud's hand, on whose white surface two
crimson circles were visible.

"I can hold it!" cried the young girl, "easily!"

And to display her indifference, Fanny knelt on one knee to pick up
her gloves.

The consequence of this movement was, that the heavy kite, struck,
doubtless, at the moment by a gust of wind, jerked the lady with the
Amazonian arm so violently, that, unable to retain her position, she
fell upon her left hand, then upon her face, and was dragged a pace or
two by the heavy weight.

"By Jove!" cried Ralph, running to her, "did anybody--"

"Oh, take care!" exclaimed Redbud, hastening to her friend's
assistance.

"It is nothing!" Fanny said; "I can hold it."

And to prove this, she let go the string, which was cutting her hand
in two.

The poor kite! loosed from the sustaining hand, from the earth, which,
so to speak, held it up--it sees its hopes of elevation in the world
all dashed with disappointment and obscured. It is doomed!

But no! A new friend comes to its rescue--deserted by the lords and
ladies of creation, the lesser creature takes it under his protection.

Longears is the rescuer. Longears has watched the messenger we have
mentioned with deep interest, as it lays upon the string and flutters;
Longears imagines that it is a bee of the species called yellow-jacket
challenging him to combat. Consequently, Longears no sooner sees the
string dart from Fanny's hand, than believing the enemy about to
escape him, he springs toward it and catches it in his mouth.

Longears catches a tartar; but too brave to yield without a struggle,
rolls upon the ground, grinding the yellow enemy, and the string
beneath his teeth.

His evolutions on the grass wrap the string around his feet and neck;
Longears is taken prisoner, and finds himself dragged violently over
the ground.

Brave and resolute before a common enemy, Longears fears this unknown
adversary. Overcome with superstitious awe, he howls; endeavoring to
howl again, he finds his windpipe grasped by his enemy. The howl turns
into a wheeze. His eyes start from his head; his jaws open; he rolls
on the grass; leaps in the air; puts forth the strength of a giant,
but in vain.

It is at this juncture that Verty runs up and severs the string with
his hunting-knive; wherea