At the shoulders of each fluttered two little wings, which were of no use for flying, as they were mere buds; only being made for it they could not help fluttering as if they were flying.

Just as the foremost of the troop reached him, one or two of them fell, and the rest with shouts of laughter came tumbling over them till they heaped up a mound of struggling merriment.

One after another they extricated themselves, and each as he got free threw his arms round Diamond and kissed him.

Diamond's heart was ready to melt within him from clear delight.

When they had all embraced him,-- "Now let us have some fun," cried one, and with a shout they all scampered hither and thither, and played the wildest gambols on the grassy slopes.