The Sandpipers 57 



unable to fly, did the first thing that came into 

 their heads (and it seemed to come into all their 

 little heads at one moment), and dropped down 

 among the pebbles motionless, with eyes shut. 

 There they stayed some time, and the eldest, 

 getting tired of this, at last opened a bright black 

 and turned it upwards. There, far up above 

 them, hovering with poised wings, was a Kestrel 

 clearly marked against the sky. The little black 

 eye closed again, and there they waited without 

 moving till at last the mother returned. 



"Well done, my dears," she said, "that was 

 a good beginning ; there was no great danger, 

 for the Kestrel would hardly be looking for 

 you among these stones ; but do that as you 

 did it then whenever I make that call to you ; 

 drop exactly where you may be, and shut your 

 eyes. All together and side by side, if you are 

 together when I call ; and when I fly round 

 above you, still calling, creep into any holes you 

 see, or under a stone or a tuft of grass, and wait 

 there till I come again. Now the hawk has 

 gone, so we may go on to the water." 



There was no need to bid them go ; had not 



