Page:Bedford-Jones--Boy Scouts of the Air at Cape Peril.djvu/98

 been put in the 'sylum yet, or if they has been, some has bus' loose."

"Ought to be a open season fer huntin' them sort o' birds all the year roun'," decided Rabbit.

Whereupon they looked at one another, laughed hoarsely, and dropped into a stare at the birdman and his fledgling, showing as clearly as glances can that they were the target of the last remark. Hardy was not touchy, but he couldn't resist twisting about and returning a challenging stare. As this movement brought to view the weapon at his belt, the rustics decided the season was not quite so open as they had thought, hitched at their breeches, sidestepped, and scuttled out of the door, much to the amusement of Legs as well as of the landlord.

During the wait for the lunch and while they were eating, Hardy answered Legs' questions with regard to the famous Blackbeard who met his end in these regions. From this he passed on to mention of the early explorers.

"Near here," he related, "were the Indian villages discovered by the expeditions sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh, who named this country Virginia in honor of the Virgin Queen. The first