152 THE LAND OF PLUCK

No wonder that she started up, horror-stricken,— Ruky
was not there !

His empty place was still warm; perhaps he had slid
softly from the bed. With trembling haste she lighted the
candle, and peered into every corner. The boy was not to
be found !

Then those fearful words rang in her ears:

“I wish you were a crow in earnest !”

Cora rushed to the door, and, with straining gaze, looked
out into the still night.

“Ruky! Ruky!” she screamed.

There was a slight stir in the low-growing tree.
“Ruky, darling, come back !”

“Caw, caw!” answered a harsh voice from the tree.
Something black seemed to spin out of it, and then, in
great sweeping circles, sailed upward, until finally it settled
upon one of the loftiest trees in the forest.

“Caw, caw!” it screamed, fiercely.

The girl shuddered, but, with outstretched arms, cried
out :

“Oh, Ruky, if it is you, come back to poor Cor!”

“Caw, caw!” mocked hundreds of voices, as a shadow
like a thunder-cloud rose in the air. It was an immense
flock of crows. She could distinguish them plainly in the
starlight, circling higher and higher, then lower and lower,
until, with their harsh “Caw, caw!” they sailed far off
into the night.

“Oh, Ruky, answer me!” she cried.

Nep growled, the forest trees whispered softly together,
and the lake, twinkling with stars, sang a lullaby as it lifted