and what the nightingales’ eggs look like. Some of us knew also already of cuckoos’ nests—aye even of pies’ nests, and such among us were worthy of special admiration.
Next in order came bird traps, which all of us knew how to make, and how proud was he who had already caught most birds, and how very high and mighty he who had succeeded in catching a tom-tit! By doing this he had proved that he was a master of trapmaking, for the tom-tit will creep through the smallest crevice in a trap.
Grey-haired Vorjech also listened: and so we caught him by both ears and put him through tricks I had taught him here before the others had yet arrived at grandfather’s.
This made us lively. After a little time we released Vorjech, and began to wrestle with one another.
In this way each had the best opportunity of showing what he had learnt since last festival, and which of us was “captain.”
If sometimes on these occasions a smarter blow than usual fell, or if blood showed itself, that was no great matter. Besides, we knew that if the battle became serious our papas’ would soon appear on the threshold and read us a homily, although we were allowed special freedom at festival time at grandfather’s. And even if all our papas’ had come with the warmest proofs of paternal affection, we knew that grandmother would take us under her wing, and indeed at festival time our consciences were very accommodating.
After battles people usually make peace that they may drub one another afresh, but in a different manner. So also did we. We ceased blood letting and divided ourselves into two camps to compete in notching pennies against a
