He went on coaxing, in his soft, persuasive way; and when we saw that the pipe did not blow up and nothing happened, our confidence returned by little and little, and presently our curiosity got to be stronger than our fear, and we ventured back--but slowly, and ready to fly at any alarm.
He was bent on putting us at ease, and he had the right art; one could not remain doubtful and timorous where a person was so earnest and simple and gentle, and talked so alluringly as he did; no, he won us over, and it was not long before we were content and comfortable and chatty, and glad we had found this new friend.

When the feeling of constraint was all gone we asked him how he had learned to do that strange thing, and he said he hadn't learned it at all; it came natural to him--like other things--other curious things.
"What ones ?" "Oh, a number; I don't know how many." "Will you let us see you do them ?" "Do--please!" the others said.
"You won't run away again ?" "No--indeed we won't.

Please do.

Won't you ?" "Yes, with pleasure; but you mustn't forget your promise, you know." We said we wouldn't, and he went to a puddle and came back with water in a cup which he had made out of a leaf, and blew upon it and threw it out, and it was a lump of ice the shape of the cup.

We were astonished and charmed, but not afraid any more; we were very glad to be there, and asked him to go on and do some more things.