At last she saw some bluebirds coming toward her; and they grew, and grew, and grew, until at last they were as big as cormorants. Then they threatened her with their beaks and screamed at her:
“You would take our feathers, would you? Flint-hearted girl! Cruel! Cruel! Cruel!”
But here General Grosbeak appeared on the scene, and commanded the chattering to cease.
“This case,” said he, “must be tried by King Crest and his Council.”
King Crest, as you must know, was King of Birdland, and he and his Council settled the affairs of his Kingdom.
So King Crest and his Council called a meeting to decide what should be done if the bluebirds’ feathers were stolen, and after a long and angry debate it was decided that, in such an event, birds of all kinds should in future avoid the grounds around Templeton Hall, and that those who were already there should vacate their dwellings.
“I move an amendment,” said Colonel Claw. “I move that Screech-owls and English sparrows annoy the Doctor’s family as much as possible, especially Anna.”
“Colonel Claw, you’ll be promoted,” said the King. “A very good idea! All in favor of this amendment lift the right claw.”
At this, every bird lifted the right claw, and the motion was carried.
When the Council adjourned, all the birds passed Anna in single file, and each, as he passed her, pecked her on the arm or the face until she was black and blue.