beak on it.'

'It's other parties as'll have the Beak on to 'em presently,' said
Ike, darkly, 'if they come a-trying to lay claims on my Poll
parrot. You just shut up, Urb. Now then, you four little gells,
get out er this.'

'Little girls!' cried Robert. 'I'll little girl you!'

He sprang up three stairs and hit out.

There was a squawk--the most bird-like noise any one had ever heard
from the Phoenix--and a fluttering, and a laugh in the darkness,
and Ike said--

'There now, you've been and gone and strook my Poll parrot right in
the fevvers--strook 'im something crool, you 'ave.'

Robert stamped with fury. Cyril felt himself growing pale with
rage, and with the effort of screwing up his brain to make it
clever enough to think of some way of being even with those boys.
Anthea and Jane were as angry as the boys, but it made them want to
cry. Yet it was Anthea who said--

'Do, PLEASE, let us have the bird.'

'Dew, PLEASE, get along and leave us an' our bird alone.'

'If you don't,' said Anthea, 'I shall fetch the police.'