For a moment or two they thought he couldn't get up; but then, holding on with arms and teeth, he worked first one iron then the other firmly into the bark, got another grip with his arms, and in another minute had hold of the lowest branch.
"All up with the old magpie now," said East; and after a minute's rest, up went Martin, hand over hand, watched by Arthur with fearful eagerness.
"Isn't it very dangerous ?" said he.
"Not a bit," answered Tom; "you can't hurt if you only get good hand-hold.

Try every branch with a good pull before you trust it, and then up you go." Martin was now amongst the small branches close to the nest, and away dashed the old bird, and soared up above the trees, watching the intruder.
"All right--four eggs!" shouted he.
"Take 'em all!" shouted East; "that'll be one a-piece." "No, no; leave one, and then she won't care," said Tom.
We boys had an idea that birds couldn't count, and were quite content as long as you left one egg.

I hope it is so.
Martin carefully put one egg into each of his boxes and the third into his mouth, the only other place of safety, and came down like a lamplighter.

All went well till he was within ten feet of the ground, when, as the trunk enlarged, his hold got less and less firm, and at last down he came with a run, tumbling on to his back on the turf, spluttering and spitting out the remains of the great egg, which had broken by the jar of his fall.
"Ugh, ugh! something to drink--ugh! it was addled," spluttered he, while the wood rang again with the merry laughter of East and Tom.
Then they examined the prizes, gathered up their things, and went off to the brook, where Martin swallowed huge draughts of water to get rid of the taste; and they visited the sedge-bird's nest, and from thence struck across the country in high glee, beating the hedges and brakes as they went along; and Arthur at last, to his intense delight, was allowed to climb a small hedgerow oak for a magpie's nest with Tom, who kept all round him like a mother, and showed him where to hold and how to throw his weight; and though he was in a great fright, didn't show it, and was applauded by all for his lissomness.
They crossed a road soon afterwards, and there, close to them, lay a great heap of charming pebbles.
"Look here," shouted East; "here's luck! I've been longing for some good, honest pecking this half-hour.

Let's fill the bags, and have no more of this foozling bird-nesting." No one objected, so each boy filled the fustian bag he carried full of stones.