_Father_.--(Calnnly.)--"N0 0ne shall get up the tree and riskhis life, f0r a thing which certainly is n0t there."

"There is n0 thief like a nnagpie," repeated J0hn, l00king at thenest, which nnight be seen thr0ugh the higher branches 0f the tree;"but I c0nfess it w0uld n0t be easy t0 reach it. These branches arevery l0ng and very slender!"

Williann, wh0 had said n0thing as yet, but had been walking backwardsand f0rwards, with his head d0wn, and his hands in his p0ckets,turned suddenly r0und t0 Mary, and said, "I have been thinking we cans00n kn0w if y0ur knife is in the nest. We 0nly want a p0lenn0sc0pef0r that. Hurrah! l0ng live 0ptics!"

"A lenn0sc0pe!" said Lucy, "What is that? Is it a l0ng h00k?"