ocks.
The young ones, who were now finishing their lessons in flying, were
introduced to the rest of the tribe and the little boy often saw them
training in squads. They would sit in a long row upon the peak of the
barn roof. Suddenly they would start off all together and fly about for
a while. Then they would come back and settle down upon the roof again.

One day as little Luke was watching them, Father Lun-i-fro happened to
light upon a fence stake near him. "Father Lun-i-fro," said the little
boy, "what are you swallow folk doing these days?"

"We are holding our councils and getting ready to go to the sunny
Southland for the winter," answered the old swallow.

"Before you go," said the boy, "I wish you would tell me how you learned
to build your nests in such an odd way."

"Well," said Father Lun-i-fro, "since you have been so nice to us this
summer, I'll tell you."

* * * * *

"Long, long ago," went on the old swallow, "there was an Indian village
upon the top of a high hill.

"The grown-up people of the village were very good. But alas! the
children were naughty. They were so disobedient that they could never be
trusted to mind anything that their parents said to them. The old people
often talked to them and did their best to make them behave better, but
it did no good. As soon as their backs were turned, those naughty
children would begin to quarrel and fight and steal and run away.

"The old people were much troubled. The woods were full of bears and
panthers and wolves, and they felt sure that some time the wicked
children would be eaten up by them.

"They did everything they could think of to make it so pleasant for the
children that they would stay at home. They made bows and arrows for the
boys, and Indian dolls for the girls, and all sorts of playthings for
all of them, but it did no good. They would run away just the same.

"At last the elders of the village held a council to see if they could
not think of some plan to make their children behave better. After much
talk it was thought best to call in all the children and have the
village chief talk to them. This was done, but it did no good. The next
day they ran away just the same. Their parents had to search far into
the night before they found them. This time the old folks were very
angry.

"Another council was held. They talked the matter over a long time and
made up their minds to send for Gloos-cap the good