The bird looked at his dismal face and began to fidget awkwardly. "There, there," it said. "I had no intention of--I am afraid that I--Stuck, did you say? Very easily mended, my dear fellow! Merely a question of--Here, let me look." It crashed through the thicket to where David was caught and thrust its head down through the branches. Its muffled voice came floating up. "Take heart! There seems to be--aha! just so--One moment, please--bit of vine--_there_ we are!" There was a snapping sound from below, and David's foot was released. He unstuck the snag from his shirt, pushed his way out of the thicket, and sat down weakly on the grass. Whew! At least the bird was not going to harm him. It seemed to be quite a kindly creature, really. He had just frightened it and made it angry by bursting out of the bushes so suddenly. He heard a flailing in the thicket, followed by the bird's anxious voice: "Hello! Are you still there?" "Yes. What--?" There were more sounds of struggle. "This is rather awkward. I--the fact is, I am afraid, that I am stuck myself. Could you--" "Yes, of course," said David. He smiled to himself, a little shakily, and re-entered the thicket. When he had disentangled the bird, the two of them sat down on the grass and looked at each other. They hesitated, not quite sure how to begin. "I trust," said the bird at last, "that you are not of a scientific turn of mind?" "I don't know," said David. "I'm interested in things, if that's what you mean." "No, it is not. There is a great deal of difference between the interest shown by normal people and the obsessive interest of scientists. You are not, I hope, acquainted with any scientists?" "No." "Ah," said the bird, with a relieved sigh. "Everything is quite all right, then. I do hope that you will forgive my behavior. I am not usually so rude. The fact is that you gave me quite a horrible start." "Oh, I'm sorry I frightened you." "Frightened, my dear fellow?" said the bird testily. "I am never frightened. I do not know the meaning of the word." "What I mean is," David said quickly, "that you frightened _me_." This seemed to pacify the bird; and David, to heighten the good impression, added: "Golly, you looked fierce." The bird smiled complacently, "I _can_ rise to a terrifying ferocity when aroused. A noble strain of fighting blood courses through my veins. Not that I go out of my way to seek quarrels, you understand. On the contrary. 'Peaceful' could well describe my general attitude. Meditative. I am usually to be found Thinking. I have a powerful intellect. No doubt you have noticed the stamp of genius on my brow." David supposed that the bird meant its scarlet crest, and he nodded. "That's one of the first things I noticed about you."