The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



Longlegs resumed his old position as motionless 

 as before. 



It was no trouble now for Peter to sit still, for 

 he was too interested in watching this lone fisher- 

 man to think of leaving. It wasn't long before 

 Longlegs made another catch and this time it was 

 a fat Pollywog. Peter thought of how he had 

 watched Plunger the Osprey fishing in the Big 

 River and the difference in the ways of the two 

 fishermen. 



"Plunger hunts for his fish while Longlegs waits 

 for his fish to come to him," thought Peter. "I 

 wonder if Longlegs never goes hunting." 



As if in answer to Peter's thought Longlegs 

 seemed to conclude that no more fish were coming 

 his way. He stretched himself up to his full 

 height, looked sharply this way and that way to 

 make sure that all was safe, then began to walk 

 along the edge of the Smiling Pool. He put each 

 foot down slowly and carefully so as to make no 

 noise. He had gone but a few steps when that 

 great bill darted down like a flash, and Peter saw 

 that he had caught a careless young Frog. A few 

 steps farther on he caught another Pollywog. 

 Then coming to a spot that suited him, he once 

 more waded in and began to watch for fish. 



Peter was suddenly reminded of Rattles the 

 Kingfisher, whom he had quite forgotten. From 

 [154] 



