Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/208

202 to say. The silence was broken by the rustling of wings, and when they raised their eyes, they saw a flock of birds sailing in the air above them.

"These are wild geese," said Grandmother; "they always go in small flocks consisting of one family only, and their way of flying is different from that of other birds. Observe! two fly in the front, two behind, and the rest go in single file, either lengthwise or crosswise, unless they make a half circle. Jackdaws, crows, and swallows go in large flocks. Several go in front, these seek a place of rest on their journey. In the rear and on the sides fly the guards, which in time of danger protect the female birds and the young; for often they meet an unfriendly flock and then a battle is fought."

"But, Grandma, how can they fight a battle when they have no hands in which to hold swords and guns?" asked Willie.

"They fight in a manner peculiar to themselves; they peck with their bills, and strike with their wings as cruelly as people do with sharp weapons. In such a battle many fall to the ground dead."

"How foolish they are," cried John.

"My boy, God has endowed man with reason, and yet how often for mere trifles men will fight till they destroy one another," said Grandmother, rising from the bench and preparing to go. "Look! the sun is about to set, the west is scarlet, to-morrow it will rain." Turning to the mountains, she added: "and Snowcap has a hood."

"Poor Mr. Beyer! what hard times he will have when he must travel through the woods," said Willie, thinking of the gamekeeper of the Riesengebirge mountains.