The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-05-30
SAVED BY HIS SWEETHEART.
A Robin Redbreasts Piucly Fight with a
 Sparrow Hawk.

A large, sprightly robin. with the brilliant red breast of the male, alight- ed on the swaying top of tall, ragged hemlock that stands down back of the post office, and began to sing a plain tive, thoughtful song to a duller-colored bird across the road on the lower limb of maple. He sang in praise, as a timid lover might. but, gaining cour- age, sang out louder and louder, till, in burst of beautiful melody, he for got his own surroundings, as lovers often do, and saw only the sweetheart with whom he would mate.
 A brown bird with long, keen wings and hateful speed flew along close to the briars along the bank behind the unconscious singer. With sharp swerve he rose up, and then the sweet heart across the road piped a shrill note of alarm and warning just in time. The lover dived down, turned sharp, and escaped the little sparrow hawks talons and more cruel bill. But the hawk was not going to be cheated out of sweet meal thus. He, too, turned and pressed close after the | fleeing robin. It looked as if the robin had sung his last song when the hawk cut off corner and came in not two feet behind the robin, peeping in eager ness for prey.
 The robin is timid bird and good natured one. He fears the ackbirds, and hops away from a bullying spar row; red squirrels are a menace to his | life, while cats and hawks drive him wildly away in fear But there comes time when a robin, pressed hard for life, or when his home is in great danger, will fight as few straight billed birds can fight, and drive a cow ard bird before him or kills brave one. So it was with this one.
 Pressed close by a fierce pursuer, with death and nothing beyond, but everything to live for, he suddenly turned on his enemy and struck at him. Struck full in the breast, the surprised hawk tumbled over back ward and fell to the ground. Again the robin struck him on the back be- fore the hawk realized what had hap pened; then he turned and the two faced each other. The robin had lost his appearance of fear and the hawk showed pain and fear. Still he at tackled the robin again.
 The hawk was a practiced fighter His training had all led that way. No bird, unless surprised and suddenly wounded, yields without fight. Long combats with agile red squirrels, blue jays, kingbirds, and lesser ones, had given him the skill which only prac- tice can give, The robins life had been different. 1t had been a peace ful search for insects and life of song; nor had nature fitted him with such weapons as his opponent had on foot and head; still the straight bill was good weapon.
 Three times the two tackled each other. The robins breast became red der yet with blood. The hawk had lost an eye. The robins tongue was bleeding and the hawks breast was scared deep by the robins first as- sault. The robin was the weaker. and the test was longer than he could stand, but he could not escape, for to turn to flee would be only to bring the other on to his back; so he fought on desperately.
 The fourth tackle he lost his hold and was sinking back, pressed down by the greater weight and superior strength. It looked darker then for him. So thought the sweetheart on the maple limb. She saw her lover fight and hopped along the limb and back again, leaning forward eagerly and chirping encouragement to him. Then, when the robin began to weak en, she sprang from the limb and hoy cred over the two, chirping fearfully.
 As the robin was sinking back ex- hausted to fall an easy prey to the hawk, she dived down straight as ever hawk dived and struck the victor between the wings in the back. It was death blow, and when she and her lover sat on the maple limb side by side blood was on her bill, while the hawk lay dead with broken back, to be picked up later by the taxidermist. IN. Y. Sun.