The Sandpipers 67 



and told that they must do exactly as they were 

 bid, and not be frightened. The father crouched 

 down among the pebbles, and the mother bade 

 the eldest chick mount upon his back, and stick 

 three long toes, whose claws were already 

 beginning to get strong, fast into the soft and 

 yielding plumage. This he did in a moment, 

 and the next one found him shooting across 

 the narrow head of the pool, with its rush of 

 tumbled water, and landed safely at the foot of 

 the rock. It was a delightful sensation, and as 

 the father opened his wings and sped back 

 again to fetch the others, the little one opened 

 his too, and felt almost as if he could do it by 

 himself. Then one after another the three 

 younger ones were carried over, piping faintly 

 from fear, and clinging for their lives to their 

 perilous perch. And lastly came the mother 

 with kind words of praise for all, and they set 

 out to enjoy themselves for a whole long day of 

 peace and plenty. 



And indeed in peace and plenty they passed 

 many days without further troubles or adven- 

 tures, while the little wings began to put out 



F 2 



