Betty was using her crash towel for a handkerchief , and Bab 's lay on the ground as she listened with snapping eyes to the little tragedy . `` Is it true ? '' asked Betty , hoping to find relief in being told that it was not . `` Yes ; I have seen the tree , and the mound where the fort was , and the rusty buckles in an old farmhouse where other Kilburns live , near the spot where it all happened , '' answered Miss Celia , looking out the picture of Victoria to console her auditors . `` We 'll play that in the old apple-tree . Betty can scrooch down , and I 'll be the father , and put leaves on her , and then I 'll be a great Injun and fire at her . I can make arrows , and it will be fun , wo n't it ? '' cried Bab , charmed with the new drama in which she could act the leading parts . `` No , it wo n't ! I do n't like to go in a cobwebby hole , and have you play kill me , I 'll make a nice fort of hay , and be all safe , and you can put Dinah down there for Matty . I do n't love her any more , now her last eye has tumbled out , and you may shoot her just as much as yon like . '' Before Bab could agree to this satisfactory arrangement , Thorny appeared , singing , as he aimed at a fat robin , whose red waistcoat looked rather warm and winterish that August day , -- `` So he took up his bow , And he feathered his arrow , And said , ' I will shoot This little cock-sparrow . ' '' `` But he did n't , '' chirped the robin , flying away , with a contemptuous flirt of his rusty-black tail . `` That is exactly what you must promise not to do , boys . Fire away at your targets as much as you like , but do not harm any living creature , '' said Miss Celia , as Ben followed armed and equipped with her own long-unused accoutrements . `` Of course we wo n't if you say so ; but , with a little practice , I could bring down a bird as well as that fellow you read to me about with his woodpeckers and larks and herons , '' answered Thorny , who had much enjoyed the article , while his sister lamented over the destruction of the innocent birds . `` You 'd do well to borrow the Squire 's old stuffed owl for a target ; there would be some chance of your hitting him , he is so big , '' said his sister , who always made fun of the boy when he began to brag . Thorny 's only reply was to send his arrow straight up so far out of sight that it was a long while coming down again to stick quivering in the ground near by , whence Sancho brought it in his mouth , evidently highly approving of a game in which he could join . `` Not bad for a beginning . Now , Ben , fire away . ''
But Ben 's experience with bows was small , and , in spite of his praiseworthy efforts to imitate his great exemplar , the arrow only turned a feeble sort of somersault and descended perilously near XXXXX 's uplifted nose .
Bab Ben Celia Dinah Injun Matty Victoria accoutrements crash rusty-black