“There are only two bodies!” sang out the owls.
“I see another, I see another!” said the bird on the branch.
Then the bird in the tree began to croak and grumble to itself, and old Sappy stared at Merrimeg and said:
“What must she do?”
“She must come to the well!” said all the owls together.
“How must she come?”
“She must walk! She must walk!”
“Who’ll take off her shoes?” said old Sappy.
“We will, we will!” cried all the owls together, and they all ran towards her, opening their beaks and squawking as they crowded in around her feet.
But Merrimeg kicked out right and left and scattered them in every direction. She found herself standing before the well and the ugly black bird overhead gave an angry screech.