The Settlers at Home | Page 9

do," said Mildred. "Look how the sleeves hang; and
how he holds his head! It is not a bit like a man."
"'Tis a good scarecrow," declared Ailwin. "I have seen many a worse
scarecrow than that."

"But this is to scare the Redfurns, and they are far wiser than crows,"
said Mildred. "Look how George pulls at the apron, and tugs at the
broomstick behind! It does not scare even him."
"It will look very different on the steps--in the open air," Oliver
declared. "A bunch or two of straw in the sleeves, and under the jacket,
will make it seem all alive."
And he carried it out, and tied it upon the mill-steps. It was no easy
matter to fasten it so as to make it look at all like a man naturally
mounting stairs. The more difficult it was, however, the more they all
became interested in the business. Mildred brought straw, and Ailwin
tied a knot here, and another knot there, while Oliver cocked the hat in
various directions upon the head, till they all forgot what they were
dressing up the figure for. The reason popped into Ailwin's head again,
when she had succeeded in raising the right arm to the rail, in a very
life-like manner.
"There!" said she, stepping backwards to view her work, "that makes a
very good master for me. I will obey him in everything he bids me till
master comes home."
At the same moment, she walked backwards against something, and
little George clung screaming to Mildred's knees. Roger had spread his
arms for Ailwin to walk back into; and Stephen was behind, leaning
against the cow-shed. They had been watching all that the party had
been doing, and, having overheard every word, had found out the
reason.
The children saw at once how very foolish they had been; and the
thought confused them so much, that they did not know what to do next.
Poor Ailwin, who could never learn wisdom, more or less, now made
matters worse by all she said and did. Stout and strong as she was, she
could do nothing, for Roger had taken the hint she had given by
walking backwards, with her arms crossed behind her: he had pinioned
her. She cried out to Oliver to run up, and set the mill-sails agoing, to
bring neighbour Gool. Stephen took this second hint. He quietly swung
Oliver off the steps, sent down his scarecrow after him, and himself

took his seat on the threshold of the mill. There he sat, laughing to see
how Ailwin wearied herself with struggles, while Roger, by merely
hanging on her arms, prevented her getting free. When, however,
Oliver flew at the boy, and struck him some fierce blows, Stephen
came down, drove the little girl and the baby into the house, and locked
them in, and then went to help Roger with his strong arm.
It was clear to Mildred what she ought to do. Crying as she was, she
put George in a corner, with some playthings, to keep him from the fire
till she came to him again, and then mounted the stairs, as quickly as
her trembling limbs would let her,--first to her mother's room, and then
out upon the roof. She tied a large red handkerchief of her mother's
upon her father's Sunday walking-stick, and then waved it, as high as
she could hold it, above her head, while she considered how she could
fasten it; for it would never do to leave George alone below for many
minutes. Perhaps neighbour Gool had seen it already, and would soon
be here with his men. But, lest he should not, she must fix her flag, and
trust to Stephen and Roger not thinking of looking up to the roof from
the yard below. At last, after many attempts, she thrust the stick into a
crevice of the roof, and fixed it with heavy things round it,--having run
down three or four times, to see that George was safe.
There was, indeed, no time to be lost, for the intruders below were
doing all the mischief they could think of, short of robbing and burning
the premises. The great tall man, Stephen, strolling about the lower
rooms, found Mrs Linacre's knitting, and pulled out the needles, and
unravelled the work. Roger spied a heap of bulbs on the corner of a
high shelf. They were Mr Linacre's rare and valuable tulip-roots,
brought from Holland. Roger cut one of them open, to see what it
looked like, and then threw the whole lot into the boiler, now steaming
over the fire, saying the family should have a dish the more at dinner
to-day. They got hold of Oliver's tools, and the cup he was at work
upon. Stephen