THE WENDY HUT

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1931, Page 20 (Supplement)

THE WENDY HUT

BOYS OF LONG AGO. < . GILES. Giles rose from his bed of straw and, crossing the sleep-ing-chamber, approached a perch on which a number of beautiful hawks were resting. One flapped his wings, causing the silver bells on his legs to ring sweetly, and Giles pressed his face to the shining feathers of the bird. He loved this- hawk which his father had reared for him, and that day he intended carrying it to the chase. •’! “He is not sufficiently trained,” murmured the sleepy voice of the Chief Falconer. “Hold thy peace,” muttered-Giles sharply. Then the Baron awoke, and soon the whole castle was preparing for the chase given in honour of the betrothal of Giles’ sister to a young knight. By noqn, the court yard was thronged with green-coated falconers, ladies and gentlemen on.horseback, and sporting dogs. Giles was the first to call for big hawk. As the falconer transferred it to the boy’s wrist; the bells on the bird’s legs • rang,-the silken tassels oh the chain by which Giles held -it glittered gold, and its eager, red-rimmed eyes gleamed from beneath an, embroidered hood. • “Giles,” said his sister, as her own falcon came fluttering to her wrist, “methinks the bird is still young to try in a gerat chase.” .. ’ ■' ’ ' Giles would not listen. He rode away, but not until a number of pheasants rose did he unhood his hawk, and toss it up into the air with a cry of encouragement. Round circled the bird, swooped upon the pheasants, changed his mind, soared after a heron, and was finally lost in the wood. The falconers searched; Giles’ father, the Baron, upbraided him soundly; and, leaving his horse, Giles -plunged into the wood. There were tears upon his cheeks as he whistled and called. Presently he came upon a hut where a peasant girl was making a fire. On the ground were some wooden arrows. “Hast seen a hawk, maiden?” asked Giles. The girl shook her head, but Giles darted into the hut, for he heard the sound of a silver bell. “My lord!” cried the girl. “I was near dead with fright, for my bird bolt struck him as he wandered lost in the wood. Throw me hot into prison for keeping the falcon! I have mended its wing.” Giles, holding his beloved hawk close-to him, saw. that the wing was wohdeffully bound. 'Out 'of- gratitude *to the girl, and because he believed'her, he said kindly: “’Twas I who wounded him; he is lost indeed.” “'Nay, my lord,” she replied. “My father can heal him, will you permit him to try.” Thus the girl’s father became Giles’ falconer, and that marvellous hawk, Broken-Wing, made Giles’ name famous. >