About a week after this Ralph climbed up again, but, just before he reached the nest, the three birds, having now grown old enough to fly, all clambered out of the nest, and flew away in all directions.
“Here’s one!”
“Stop ’em! stop ’em! Eddy,” said Ralph, “or watch them at least, and see where they go, till I come down.”
“Here’s one,” said Eddy.
He pointed, as he said this, under some currant-bushes, near an alley where he was walking. The little bird was crouched down, and was looking about him full of wonder. In fact, he was quite astonished to find how far he had flown.
Ralph clambered down the ladder as fast as he could, and then ran off to the tool-house, saying as he ran,
“Keep him there, Eddy, till I go and get my net.”
“I can’t keep him,” said Eddy, “unless he has a mind to stay. But I will watch him.”
So Eddy stood still and watched the bird while Ralph went after his net. The bird hopped along a little way, and then stopped, and remained perfectly still until Ralph returned.