Page:Sparrow, the tramp (IA sparrowtramp00wess).pdf/157

 *dered. What if he shouldn't be able to find his way at all? But he was a brave little fellow, and he thrust the thought aside. "I will get out, I won't give up," he said resolutely. "This hole must lead somewhere;" and he pushed bravely on.

"Seems to me I've gone far enough to take me out; I don't understand it. My strength won't hold out to go back and try another entrance." He thought of the bright-eyed sparrow and his three little ones, and he determined to hold out, for they had never seemed so dear to him as they did now that the hope of seeing them again appeared so small. With a great effort he kept on, holding the bit of ribbon in his beak. Soon he turned a sharp corner, and with joy he beheld a ray of light in the distance. The long dark passage led into the main passage-way, and he was safe.

Just as he was about to emerge into the daylight a faint rustle met his quick ears,