Then it flew away, and Tina and the other birds went on into the forest. As they went on, they heard sounds of distress, and they saw among the branches of a tree two birds whose nest had been overturned, and the eggs broken. They all gathered around, and asked the pair what had happened.
“He has been here,” said they, chirping pitifully.
“Come with us,” said the birds. “We are going to the North Country, and we can find him. After that we will all be happy in the Rose Garden.”
So the birds went with them, and they all rose up over the tops of the trees, and flew through the air to the north.
It grew colder and colder. Every now and then other birds would join them, when they heard where they were going; and by the time they reached the snow there was a large flock of them.
Tina wondered what they were all going to do, when they all settled down on the snow-covered ground.
There were buildings and trees about; and after a great deal of chattering, some of them flew up on the branches, and others on different places, where they all seemed to be waiting for something.
Finally, they all looked at each other, and said, “Here he comes!”
Tina looked too, and saw a strange creature coming toward them. It looked something like a cat, and something like a snake. She could not tell which it was.
At once there was a great flutter and stir among the birds, and they all flew furiously at the creature.