“There’s trouble at home. That’s my wife’s danger call,” Mr. Sandpiper exclaimed. And then Ready did hear a low, frightened, far-away little peep.
Away flew Mr. Sandpiper in his queer jerky fashion, while Ready followed him as rapidly as he could. And then quite suddenly there appeared the strangest sight that Ready had ever seen.
Two boys were walking along the beach, and in front of them on the sand lay Mrs. Sandpiper, flopping about on one wing in a very pitiful way. She would wait until the boys had almost caught her before she would raise herself and fly a little farther away from them. Then she would flop again.
“She is not really hurt, you know,” whispered Mr. Sandpiper, “but those dreadful boys want to rob us of our home, and she is trying to lead them away from it. I must fly over and look after the children, who have probably been told to hide under some leaves.”
He was off without another word and disappeared behind a tall rock.
At first the boys thought it was great fun to try to catch the Sandpiper, but after failing to do it several times, they began to grow tired.
“Oh, let’s go away,” said one. “I believe she is just trying to fool us. I have heard that they do that sometimes.”
“I am sure the nest is near by,” said the other boy. “I heard something over there.”
So the boys turned away from Mrs. Sandpiper and went over toward the little rock.
Ready knew that something must be done, or they would surely find the nest. Mrs. Sandpiper gave a frightened little peep which said, “Oh, please, please, somebody do something to save my home and children.”