"I didn't know they could talk." "Oh, yes; all the birds in Mo are educated to talk," said the Bumpy Man.

Then he looked at Cap'n Bill uneasily and added: "Won't you let the poor things go ?" "I'll see," replied the sailor, and walked out to where the birds were fluttering and complaining because the strings would not allow them to fly away.
"Listen to me!" he cried, and at once they became still.

"We three people who are strangers in your land want to go to some other country, and we want three of you birds to carry us there.

We know we are asking a great favor, but it's the only way we can think of--excep' walkin', an' I'm not much good at that because I've a wooden leg.

Besides, Trot an' Button-Bright are too small to undertake a long and tiresome journey.