Page:The Swiss Family Robinson (Kingston).djvu/318

272 home, fitting that up with partitions, perches, and nesting places; while a large wooden front was fitted on to the opening, with entrance-holes, slides, or shutters, and a broad platform in front, where the birds could rest, and walk about.

When, after the work of a few weeks, we thought it was fit for habitation, I set the other children to work at some distance from our cavern, and summoning Fritz,— “Now, my faithful assistant,” said I, “it is time to conjure the new colonists to their settlement here. “Yes,” I continued, laughing at his puzzled look. “I mean to play a regular pigeon-dealer's trick. You must know such gentry are very ingenious, not only in keeping their own pigeons safe, but in adding to their numbers by attracting those of other people. All I want is some soft clay, anise-seed and salt, of which I will compound a mixture, which our birds will like very much, and the smell of which will bring others to share it with them.”

“I can easily get you those things, father.”

“I shall want some oil of anise-seed besides,” said I, “to put on the pigeon-holes, so that the birds' feathers may touch it as they pass in and out, and become scented with what will attract the wild pigeons. This I can obtain by pounding anise-seed; therefore, bring me the mortar and some oil.”

When this was strongly impregnated with the aromatic oil from the seeds (for I did not propose to distil it in regular style), I strained it through a cloth, pressing it strongly: the result answered my purpose, and the scent would certainly remain for some days.

All my preparations being completed, the pigeons were installed in their new residence, and the slides closed. The European birds were by this time quite friendly with the three beautiful strangers; and when the other boys came home, and scrambled up the ladder to peep in at a little pane of glass I had fixed in front, they saw them all contentedly picking up grain, and pecking at the