THE CHILDHOOD OF BIB-NECK 25 



coat above. About her white neck was a gray belt, like a 

 bib so loose that it had slipped down on her breast. How 

 large she was, too! She could stand and look over the 

 largest shell on the beach, for she could reach up until 

 she was five or six inches tall. She had long slender legs, 

 and little feet. There were only three toes on each foot, 

 but she could run very fast, nevertheless ; faster than 

 the big white crabs when they chased each 

 other. Her voice was soft and clear, so that 

 she spoke in a mellow whistle as though there 

 was a sort of bird flute in her throat. She 

 was of that species which men have named 

 the Wilson's plover. 



Now, little Bib-neck (although he did not 

 grow the bib on his neck for days to come) and his sisters 

 grew tired of staying in the hole in the sand, as they had 

 grown weary of remaining inside the eggshells. Soon 

 they were out running about and learning many wonderful 

 things. Their mother fed them and taught them the secrets 

 of the seashore and the ways of plover life. They were 

 not allowed to go near the water, but they often watched 

 their parents run down behind a wave as it left the beach, 

 quickly pick up what good things could be found to eat, 

 and then come speeding back as the next breaker would 

 rush in. In a short time they would be grown and could 



