Moving very quietly, so as to not alarm the birds, he crept up to several of the biggest ones and tied cords around their legs, thus making them prisoners.

The birds were so intent on their eating that they did not notice what had happened to them, and when about twenty had been captured in this manner Cap'n Bill tied the ends of all the strings together and fastened them to a huge stone, so they could not escape.
The Bumpy Man watched the old sailor's actions with much curiosity.
"The birds will be quiet until they've eaten up all the snow," he said, "but then they will want to fly away to their homes.

Tell me, sir, what will the poor things do when they find they can't fly ?" "It may worry 'em a little," replied Cap'n Bill, "but they're not going to be hurt if they take it easy and behave themselves." Our friends had all made a good breakfast of the delicious popcorn and now they walked toward the house again.

Button-Bright walked beside Trot and held her hand in his, because they were old friends and he liked the little girl very much.

The boy was not so old as Trot, and small as she was he was half a head shorter in height.