60 More Tales of the Birds 



flew up and down stream loudly calling ; but 

 there was always plenty of time for them to get 

 into holes and corners safely, and the anglers 

 passed on again without noticing either young 

 or old. At last the light began to fade, the 

 young ones were tired and sleepy even the 

 eldest, who had distinguished himself by trying 

 to fly, and actually getting out on a stone half 

 a foot from the shore, where he stood bowing 

 with great pride till his father came and shoved 

 him into the water to scramble ashore in a 

 fright and so this delightful day came to an 

 end, and they all went back to the shelter where 

 the nest was placed. 



The next day was a Sunday, and they spent 

 half the morning in great happiness without 

 seeing a single fisherman. But after all they 

 were to learn this day that life has its troubles : 

 for a huge heron took it into his head to fish 

 while human beings could not, and alighted at 

 the water's edge within a dozen yards of the 

 spot where they were already motionless in 

 obedience to their mother's signal pipe. And 

 there the great bird kept standing on one leg 



