“Oh, oh, oh! Daddy Coax! Daddy Coax!” cried the children, running away. They might be very brave laying siege to birds’ nests; but they could not run away fast enough from these birch rods.
The stern-looking old ladies pounced upon the leaders of the gang, and held them firmly tucked under their arms. Kitty saw the black-eyed child who liked to kill “fies” and “butterfies.”
As she stood looking, the severe dames suddenly disappeared, carrying off the children as they vanished.
“Extraordinary!” muttered Kitty, rubbing her eyes.
She looked to the right, to the left; they were gone! “I can’t understand it! They were here a moment ago—and who is Daddy Coax? How shall I find out where he lives?”
CHAPTER V
“TO DADDY COAX’S HOUSE.”
“I shall take you there,” said a voice.
Kitty turned round and saw a little girl standing with her eyes modestly cast on the ground.
“I think I saw you with the cruel children who were going to rob the nest,” she said bluntly.