[CHAPTER XX] _The Battle_
Twinkle and Chubbins flew slowly home to their nests in the maple tree,pausing to ask every bird they met where tingle-berries grew. But noneof them could tell.
"I'm sorry we did not ask Policeman Bluejay," said Chubbins.
"I intended to ask him, but we hadn't time," replied Twinkle. "But hewill be back to-morrow morning."
"I wonder what he's going to do," remarked the boy.
"Don't know, Chub; but it'll be the right thing, whatever it is. Youmay be sure of that."
They visited the nest of the baby goldfinches, and found the WidowChaffinch still caring for the orphans in her motherly way. The littleones seemed to be as hungry as ever, but the widow assured thelark-children that all five had just been fed.
"Did you ever hear of a tingle-berry?" asked Twinkle.
"Yes; it seems to me I have heard of that berry," was the reply. "If Iremember rightly my grandmother once told me of the tingle-berries, andwarned me never to eat one. But I am quite certain the things do notgrow in our forest, for I have never seen one that I can recollect."
"Where do they grow, then?" enquired Chubbins.
"I can't say exactly where; but if they are not in the forest, theymust grow in the open country."
The child-larks now returned to their own nest, and sat snuggled up init during the evening, talking over the day's experiences and thewonderful things they had seen in the fairy-like Paradise of the Birds.So much sight-seeing had made them tired, so when it grew dark theyfell fast asleep, and did not waken until the sun was peeping over theedge of the trees.
"Good gracious!" exclaimed the girl, "we shall be late at the meetingat the Judgment Tree. Let's hurry, Chub."
They ate a hasty breakfast from the contents of their basket, and afterflying to the brook for a drink and a dip in the cool water theyhurried toward the Judgment Tree.
There they found a vast assemblage of birds. They were so numerous,indeed, that Twinkle was surprised to find that so many of theminhabited the forest.
But a still greater surprise was in store for her, for immediately shediscovered sitting upon the biggest branch of the tree twenty-twobluejays, all in a row. They were large, splendidly plumaged birds,with keen eyes and sharp bills, and at their head was the children'sold friend, the policeman.
"These are my cousins," he said to the child-larks, proudly, "and Ihave brought them from another forest, where they live, to assist me. Iam not afraid of the foolish rooks now, and in a moment we shall flyaway to give them battle."
The forest birds were all in a flutter of delight at the prompt arrivalof the powerful bluejays, and when the word of command was given theyall left the tree and flew swiftly to meet the rooks.
First came the ranks of the twenty-two bluejays, with the policeman attheir head. Then followed many magpies and cuckoos, who were too cleverto side with the naughty rooks when they saw the powerful birds thebluejay had summoned to his assistance. After these flew the smallerbirds, of all descriptions, and they were so many and at the same timeso angry that they were likely to prove stubborn foes in a fight.
This vast army came upon the rooks in an open space in the forest.Without waiting for any words or explanations from the rebels, thesoldierly bluejays fell upon their enemies instantly, fighting fiercelywith bill and claw, while the other birds fluttered in the rear,awaiting their time to join in the affray.
Policeman Bluejay singled out the rook which had stolen his helmet andclub, and dashed upon him so furiously that the black rebel was amazed,and proved an easy victim to the other's superior powers. He threw downthe club and helmet at once; but the bluejay was not satisfied withthat, and attacked the thief again and again, until the air was full ofblack feathers torn from the rook's body.
After all, the battle did not last long; for the rooks soon screamedfor mercy, and found themselves badly plucked and torn by the timetheir assailants finally decided they had been punished enough.
Like all blustering, evil-disposed people, when they found themselvesconquered they whined and humbled themselves before the victors anddeclared they would never again rebel against Policeman Bluejay, theregularly appointed guardian of the Law of the Forest. And I am toldthat after this day the rooks, who are not rightly forest birds, betookthemselves to the nearest villages and farm houses, and contentedthemselves with plaguing mankind, who could not revenge themselves aseasily as the birds did.
After the fight Policeman Bluejay thanked his cousins and sent themhome again, and then the birds all surrounded the policeman and cheeredhim gratefully for his cleverness and bravery, so that he was the heroof the hour.
Judge Bullfinch tried to make a fine speech, but the birds were tooexcited to listen to his words, and he soon found himself without anaudience.
Of course, Twinkle and Chubbins took no part in the fight, but they hadhovered in the background to watch it, and were therefore as proud oftheir friend as any of the forest birds could be.