George, George! Where are you?" called Frank as he went through the wood.

"I am here," answered George.

"Where? I can't see you," shouted Frank at the top of his voice.

"I am here, up a tree," said George.

"Whatever are you doing there?" said Frank as he spied George's fat legs through the branches of a tree.

"I shall be down in a minute," said George, "and I will tell you."

Presently George came scrambling down so quickly that Frank thought he would be sure to fall.

But George was not afraid of this, for had he not been used to climbing trees all his life? But then, you see, George lived in the country, and Frank had only come to stay with him for his summer holiday.

And what a surprise this holiday was to Frank, who lived in a town where he could not see the green fields nor hear the birds sing!

"Frank," said George in a whisper, "there is a hawk's nest up that tree."

"Did you see it?" asked Frank.

"Yes," answered George, "but I could not get close to it; I must try again to-morrow."

The next day being fine, George and Frank hurried to the wood. They soon came to the tree where the nest was, and George began to climb.

Up, up, he went, higher and higher, until Frank could not see him any more, for it was a very high tree.

"I have found it," shouted George, "and there are young ones in it."

"Oh! do bring one down," called Frank. "I should like to see it."

"I will try," answered George, "but they are very savage."

However, George managed to get hold of one of the young hawks, and he started to come down the tree once more. It was not so easy to climb down this time, and he had many scratches and bruises before he reached the ground again.

"Look!" said George; "this is a young hawk." And he held it out for Frank to see.

It was very pretty but very angry, and it had given George some hard pecks, so that his fingers were bleeding.

Well, George and Frank took the young hawk home and put it into a cage.

Now, I think these two boys were very cruel to rob the nest; but if you read the rest of this story you will see what happened.

The next day Frank said to George, "I wish I had another hawk to take home to my brother Fred. He would be so pleased."

So, sad to say, George climbed the tree again, and took out of the nest another bird, and they put it into the cage beside its mate.

The next week Frank went back to town, for he had spent a long holiday, and it was now time to go back to school.

What must have been the feelings of the poor hawks when they found themselves shut up in a cage and taken away in the train to a smoky town?

Fred was delighted when he saw them, although he was rather afraid to go near them, for they ruffled their feathers and looked so angry if any one attempted to touch them.

So the poor birds were put in an outhouse, and given raw meat to eat, and very miserable they looked.

After a few days Frank began to wish that he had never asked George to take them from their nest. You see, after Fred had seen them there was no more fun, and Frank thought that they might die if they were shut up for a long time in a cage.

"Fred," said Frank, "what do you think we should do with these birds?"

"Well," said Fred, "I think we ought to take them into the country and set them free again."

"Hurrah!" shouted Frank; "that is just what I was thinking. Let us do it now."

So Frank and Fred covered up the cage, and off they went.

I think the sparrow hawks must have been saying to each other, "Oh dear me! What are they going to do with us now?"

After a very, very long walk the two boys came to the green fields. They were very tired and hot and dusty, so Frank said, "Oh, let us open the cage now, for I cannot go any further."

But Fred answered, "There is a wood not far away. Let us go there, and then the birds will feel more at home."

So they went on until they came to the wood. Frank took the cover off the cage, and Fred opened the door.

The hawks looked out for a few seconds, and then made one dash for liberty.

They mounted higher and higher, and then soared away out of sight.

Frank looked at Fred, and Fred looked at Frank, and then both together they said,—

"I am glad they are free."

"I wonder where they will go," said Fred.