on, Daddy!" to Robert Robin, and both of them flew away
as fast as they could. And that was the reason why little Billy Nuthatch
hunted all that Fall for little Sheldon Robin, and never found him.

Robert Robin and his family were now ready to start for the south.
"Across the lakes, and over the mountains, and along the river to the
great bay!" repeated Robert Robin, and all the rest of the robins
repeated it after him,--"Across the lakes, and over the mountains, and
along the river to the great bay!"

Over the little lakes they flew, higher and higher into the air, until
the mountains were crossed, and the river lay in the wide valley below
them. The river itself seemed a blue ribbon on a carpet of brown and
green. Hardly a sound came from below, but the noise of their own wing
pinions as they whistled through the air made a sound like the panting
of tiny engines,--"Swish-swish-swish-swish!" as Robert Robin led his
family towards the warm south.

"Isn't that Elmira?" asked Mrs. Robin.

"Yes, my dear!" answered Robert Robin, "and we will soon be with Cousin
Phineas."

In a few moments they were all perched in the tree where Cousin Phineas
had his nest. But Cousin Phineas was not at home. He had gone to Big
Flats after sweet corn; Mister Oliver Sparrow came fluttering into the
tree and asked:

"Hi sye, Old Top, don't you know that this is not a public camping spot?
We 'ave no accommodations for tourists! Better keep moving or Hi'll call
the force!" That made Robert Robin very angry, and he hopped very close
to where Mister Oliver Sparrow was sitting and said, "In the country
where I came from, we robins do not let an impudent little sparrow even
speak to us, but I will not pull the feathers out of your back this
time, if you will kindly tell me where my Cousin Phineas is to-day!"

"Hi! Hi! Fellows!" shouted Oliver Sparrow. "'Ere's a country robin what
is a cousin of Phin's! Come and 'elp me pick 'em!"

[Illustration: The sparrows came rushing at Robert Robin and his family.
(Page 105) (Exciting Adventures of Mr. Robert Robin)]

Screaming and shouting at the tops of their voices, scores of sparrows
came rushing straight at Robert Robin and his family. Robert Robin was
very angry, and the first sparrow that came within the reach of his
strong bill, he sent reeling to the ground. Robert Robin shook the
feathers from his bill and struck the next and the next. The air was
full of the wicked sparrows. They came from