Now, tell me: Which three of you birds will consent to carry us ?" The birds looked at one another as if greatly astonished.

Then one of them replied: "You must be crazy, old man.

Not one of us is big enough to fly with even the smallest of your party." "I'll fix the matter of size," promised Cap'n Bill.

"If three of you will agree to carry us, I'll make you big an' strong enough to do it, so it won't worry you a bit." The birds considered this gravely.

Living in a magic country, they had no doubt but that the strange one-legged man could do what he said.
After a little, one of them asked: "If you make us big, would we stay big always ?" "I think so," replied Cap'n Bill.
They chattered a while among themselves and then the bird that had first spoken said: "I'll go, for one." "So will I," said another; and after a pause a third said: "I'll go, too." Perhaps more would have volunteered, for it seemed that for some reason they all longed to be bigger than they were; but three were enough for Cap'n Bill's purpose and so he promptly released all the others, who immediately flew away.
The three that remained were cousins, and all were of the same brilliant plumage and in size about as large as eagles.