Part 3 (2/2)

”Let's--let's do it tomorrow,” he quavered

”Nonsense,” said the Phoenix firmly ”No time like the present Now, then, up onto sit?”

”On s _behind_ s, please--there we are Ready?”

”No,” said David faintly

”Splendid! The proof is to be dereat wings were outstretched David gulped, clutched the Phoenix's neck tightly, and shut his eyes He felt a hopping sensation, then a long, sickening doard swoop that seemed to leave his stomach far behind A tremendous rush of air snatched at his shi+rt He opened his eyes and choked with fright The ground beloas rushi+ng up toThe Phoenix was breathing in hoarse gasps; its wings were pounding the air frantically Now they had turned back The scarp looh above theet back to it

Upupup They crawled through the air The wings flapped wildly, faster and faster They were gaining--slipping back--gaining again The Phoenix sobbed as it stretched its neck in the last effort

Fifty feettwenty feetten With a treet one claw over the edge and to seize the branch of a bush in its beak David's legs slipped froled over the abyss from the outstretched neck, and prayed The bush saved thee, tottered there for an instant, and dropped on the grass

For a long ti

At last the Phoenix weakly raised its head ”Puff--well, my boy--puff puff--!--very narrow squeak I--puff--”

[Illustration]

David could not answer The earth reeled under hirass

”Puff--I repeat, I aly powerful flyer There are few birds--none, I daresay--who--puff--could have done even this much The truth of the matter is that you are a lot--puff--heavier than you look I hope you are not being overfed at ho whether or not he was going to be sick

”Well, my course is clear,” said the Phoenix fir-up exercises, roadwork, and what not Rigorous diet Lots of sleep Regular hours Courage, my dear fellow! We shall do it yet!”

And so for the folloeek the Phoenix practiced

Everysandwiches for himself, cookies for the Phoenix, and a wet towel Then, while he kept count, the Phoenix did setting-up exercises After this, the bird would jog trot up and down the ledge and practice ju Then there would be a fifteen-minute rest and refreshment period And when that was over, the Phoenix would launch itself into the air This was the part David liked best It was a ht The Phoenix dashed back and forth at top speed, wheeled in circles, shot straight up like a rocket--plunged, hovered, looped--rolled, soared, fluttered Now and then it would swoop back to the ledge beside David and wipe the sweat froress, my boy?”

David would wrap the wet towel around the Phoenix's neck ”You're doing better and better, Phoenix I especially like that part where you twist over on your back and loop and plunge, all at the same time”

”I do perform that rather well, don't I? It is not easy But just the thing for acquiring (ouch!) muscle tone Are there any , let this be a lesson to you, ain”

The Phoenix would take wing again And David would settle back against a rock and watch Soet

Soht how nice it would be if _he_ could fly And sometimes he did not think at all, but just sat with his eyes half shut, feeling the sunlight on his face and listening to the rustle of the wind in the thicket

At the end of the week the Phoenix, after a brilliant display of acrobatics, landed on the ledge, clasped its wings behind its back, and looked solemnly at David