Part 7 (2/2)
”David!” Mother cried ”Are you all right? Where have you been? Did he hurt you?”
”Who?” said David ”I'lar!” said Mother excitedly ”He put his head in theand said '_pssssst!_'”
”I tell you, burglars don't say _pssssst_!” Dad said ”They try toit again!” he added, waving his pistol
”Running around on that rulars and I don't knohat-all loose in town!”
”And then we found that you were gone, and we thought he had stolen you,” Mother went on ”Where have you been?”
”I couldn't sleep,” said David ”So I went for a walk”
”Well, thank heavens you're safe,” said Mother
”Hankering after that ht,” Aunt Amy muttered ”As if he wasn't up there all day”
”Look here, Son,” said Dad ”What do you know about this?”
”Honestly, Dad,” said David, ”I couldn't sleep There's nothing wrong with that I can't help it if I can't sleep So I took a walk There's nothing wrong with--”
”Oh, all right, all right,” his father said ”I suppose it's just a coincidence Let's all get back to sleep And, David, the next ti sheep”
Gradually the house calood nights were said, the lights were turned off
David knew that it would be at least an hour before he dared to ain, and he would have to be doubly careful this tilar What if he should et about that by thinking of what he would put in the note for the Phoenix
He had got as far as ”Dear Phoenix:” and ondering how you spelled ”Phoenix,” when there came a swish and a thump at his , followed by a cautious whisper:
”_Pssssst!_”
David felt his scalp prickle ”Wh-ho's that?” he quavered
”Is that you, uarded voice ”Ah, thank heavens!”
And the Phoenix crawled through the
Weak with relief, David snapped on the bedside light The Phoenix presented a shocking sight Its face was draith fatigue, and it looked rather draggled Its back sagged, its wings drooped to the floor, and it walked with a limp
[Illustration]
”Oh, Phoenix, Phoenix!” David whispered He jumped to support the bird before it collapsed entirely
”Ah, thank you, my boy,” the Phoenix murmured ”Your bed, I presus creaked under its weight as the Phoenix gingerly lay down