While the children had been talking, one of the storks was standing on one leg on the edge of the nest.
"That's the papa stork that you see now," explained Hans. "He's away most of the day, gathering food, but every now and then he comes back to the nest to rest. He always stands on one leg, just like that, when he rests."
"The mama stork has to stay on the nest all the time until the eggs hatch," said Greta. "Sometimes she stands up for a little while, but she never flies away."
"I wonder how many eggs there are." Anna was more interested in the storks than in anything else on the farm.
"Only four this year," said Hans. "I climbed up on the roof yesterday to find out. Some years there are five, and sometimes only three."
"My, but you are brave, Hans!" Anna looked at Hans in admiration. "That roof is terribly steep. I know I'd be afraid to climb it."
"But you are only a girl, Anna," teased Hans.
"Just the same, I can climb as well as a boy. I'll show you." And before Hans could argue, Anna ran over to the house and climbed up the tree to Greta's balcony.
"I'll take it all back, Anna. You really can climb." Hans hadn't expected this cousin from the city to be such a tomboy. He would have to find some other way to tease her.
"When will the baby storks hatch out, Greta?" Anna couldn't get her mind off this fascinating subject.