If they did, both these appetites must have been secondary with them to the desire for rest; for scarce ten seconds had elapsed after their alighting, when each drew in its long neck, burying it between the shoulders as in a case, leaving visible only the upper half of the head, with its huge scythe-shaped beak--the mandibles resting against the prominence of the breast bone, and pointing diagonally downwards.
Simultaneous with this movement, the spectators perceived another-- equally indicative of a desire on the part of the birds to betake themselves to repose.

This was the drawing up of one of their long fleshless legs, until it was entirely concealed under the loose feathers of the belly--a movement made by both so exactly at the same instant, as to lead to the belief that they were actuated by like impulses, by some spiritual union that existed between them! In ten seconds more both birds appeared to be asleep.

At all events, their eyes were closed; and not a movement could be detected in the limbs, wings, bodies, or beaks of either! It was certainly a ludicrous sight to see these huge creatures--each supporting itself on a single stalk, so straight and slender that nothing but the nicest balance could have ensured their equilibrium; and this, too, while neither seemed conscious of any danger of toppling over--of which, indeed, there was not the slightest reason to be afraid.
The Hindoo had been too long accustomed to this sort of spectacle, to see anything in it worthy of being laughed at.

Not so Caspar--whose mirth was at once excited to the point of risibility.

The unconcerned manner in which the storks had come to a stand--along with the picturesque _pose_ in which they had composed themselves to sleep--was even too much for the stoical Karl; who at once echoed the laughter which his brother had inaugurated.
Their united cachinnations rang loudly over the lake--reverberating in repeated peals from the adjacent cliffs.
It might be supposed that the _fracas_ thus created would have alarmed the new arrivals: and caused them once more to make an appeal to their wings.
Nothing of the sort.