ortress. That every
man's home is his castle, is rightly held in England as an established
law, and the hornbills naturally considered their nest their castle.
With loud screams of rage the male bird attacked poor Nub, who slipped
down to the next round, where he held on with might and main, trying to
defend his head from the furious onslaught of his feathered foe.
Fortunately, his curly head of hair was a good thick one, and prevented
the bird from inflicting the injury it might otherwise have done.
Keeping his head down, so as to defend his eyes, he rapidly descended
the ladder, the hornbills cawing and screaming all the time. The male
bird, however, did not attempt to descend beyond the upper rounds of the
ladder.

"I no tink we lose our dinner, though," said Nub, as he got to the
bottom. "What say you, Massa Shobbrok?"

"Certainly not, Nub," answered the mate. "I have got a notion which I
am pretty sure will succeed."

"Den, if you show me what it is, I go up again, pretty quick," said Nub,
who was afraid that the mate would deprive him of the honour of catching
the bird. The mate took a line from his pocket, forming a noose, which
he secured to a light bamboo. "I see it," cried Nub, "I see it. I soon
catch both of dem, one after de oder."

Taking the bamboo, he quickly ascended the ladder till he got near
enough to reach the hornbill, which was still standing screaming
defiantly on the upper round; and before it was aware of what the black
was about, the latter slipped the noose over the bird's head and drew it
tight, and then with a violent jerk pulling it off its perch, down it
came, with its huge bill first and its wings fluttering, to the ground,
where Dan quickly despatched it. Nub immediately descended for the
bamboo; and mounting again, slipped the noose over the head of the hen
hornbill, which she had poked out to see what had become of her partner.
He held her fast enough, but could not drag her out of her hole. By
standing on the upper round, however, he was able to batter in her
fortress with his fist, after which he speedily sent her to the ground.
Then putting in his hand, he drew out a curious creature like a ball of
down, bearing no resemblance whatever to its parents. Though scarcely
fledged, it was not to be despised, being very fat, and about the size
of, a young chicken. So Nub threw it down to join its parents, shouting
out, "Dere, dat make a fine dinner for Missie Alice." Poor A