hought of that. And Daisy running
about out-of-doors! Dear me! It takes a scientist to be an unnatural
parent!'

"His alarm was half real, half assumed; but, all the same, he glanced
gravely at us both, shaking his handsome head, absorbed in thought.
Daisy herself looked a little doubtful. As for me, my sensations were
distinctly queer.

"'It is true,' said the professor, frowning at the wall, 'that human
remains have been found associated with the bones of the ekaf-bird--I
don't know how intimately. It is a matter to be taken into most
serious consideration.'

"'The problem can be solved,' said I, 'in several ways. One is, to
keep Miss Holroyd in the house--'

"'I shall not stay in,' cried Daisy, indignantly.

"We all laughed, and her father assured her that she should not be
abused.

"'Even if I did stay in,' she said, 'one of these birds might alight
on Master Dick.'

"She looked saucily at me as she spoke, but turned crimson when her
father observed, quietly, 'You don't seem to think of me, Daisy!'

"'Of course I do,' she said, getting up and putting both arms around
her father's neck; 'but Dick--as--as you call him--is so helpless and
timid.'

"My blissful smile froze on my lips.

"'Timid!' I repeated.

"She came back to the table, making me a mocking reverence.

"'Do you think I am to be laughed at with impunity?' she said.

"'What are your other plans, Dick?' asked the professor. 'Daisy, let
him alone, you little tease!'

"'One is, to haul a lot of cast-iron boilers along the dunes,' I said.
'If these birds come when the carcass floats in, and if they seem
disposed to trouble us, we could crawl into the boilers and be safe.'

"'Why, that is really brilliant!' cried Daisy.

"'Be quiet, my child. Dick, the plan is sound and sensible and
perfectly practical. McPeek and Frisby shall go for a dozen loads of
boilers to-morrow.'

"'It will spoil the beauty of the landscape,' said Daisy, with a
taunting nod to me.

"'And Frisby will probably attempt to cover them with bill-posters,' I
added, laughing.

"'That,' said Daisy, 'I shall prevent, even at the cost of his life.'
And she stood up, looking very determined.

"'Children, children,' protested the professor, 'go to bed--you bother
me.'

"Then I turned deliberately to Miss Holroyd.

"'Good-night, Daisy,' I said.

"'Good-night, Dick,' she said, very gently.

XXI

"The week passed quickly for me, leaving but few definite impres