So he slid back one of the
doors of the case, gave the little chirruping whistle of the knooks
that all birds know well, and called:
"Come, friends; the door is open--fly out!"
Popopo did not know the birds were stuffed; but, stuffed or not,
every bird is bound to obey a knook's whistle and a knook's call. So
they left the hats, flew out of the case and began fluttering about
the room.
"Poor dears!" said the kind-hearted knook, "you long to be in the
fields and forests again."
Then he opened the outer door for them and cried: "Off with you! Fly
away, my beauties, and be happy again."
The astonished birds at once obeyed, and when they had soared away
into the night air the knook closed the door and continued his
wandering through the streets.
By dawn he saw many interesting sights, but day broke before he had
finished the city, and he resolved to come the next evening a few
hours earlier.
As soon as it was dark the following day he came again to the city
and on passing the millinery shop noticed a light within. Entering
he found two women, one of whom leaned her head upon the table and
sobbed bitterly, while the other strove to comfort her.
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