Page:The Aborigines of Victoria and Riverina.djvu/159

154 occasion stand a considerable amount of humbug, but to becalled a fool was a trifle more than her good nature could put up with; therefore she sprang off her nest, intending to make it a salutary warning to old dame Courtenie, and as she did so she said, "You wretched wry-necked old harridan, what do you mean by coming here at all? If you don't get out of this neighbourhood at once I shall incapacitate you from ever doing so." Thereupon she made a determined rush at the crooked-necked brute, intent on slaughter dire; unfortunately, however, she knew but little of the cunning possessed by the sly grey bird, as the immediate sequel demonstrated. The Conrtenie [sic] waited calmly until her furious adversary was within a few feet, when she nimbly flapped her wings and vaulted lightly over the poor Kurwie's back, alighting close by the side of the nest; meantime the impetus of the Kurwie's deadly attack had carried that poor bird many yards away, and by the time she had stayed her irate career, and turned round, the wicked old Courtenie had danced all the eggs but one to smash, and that one she held in one foot, whilst she wickedly hopped about on the other, to an accompaniment of derisive ejaculations.

When the irate Kurwie saw the destruction which theCourtenie had effected with her cherished eggs, with foam flaked beak, she again rushed madly at the vile old brute; but, alas, the result of this second attack was as futile as the former one, for, judging her time accurately, the sly Courtenie again sprang into the air, as Kurwie came up with a rush, sending the egg which she held in her claw, at the same time, flying to the sky with as great velocity