"
They stared at him with wonder at the breaking point. It all seemed so
obviously and marvellously true. How had they missed it up till now?
"So get a feather," he went on quietly, "and then we can begin to look
at once."
No one objected, no one criticised, no one hesitated. Tim knew where
all the feathers were because he knew every nest in the garden. He led
the way. In less than two minutes all had small, soft feathers in
their hands.
"Now, we'll begin to look," the Tramp announced. "It's the loveliest
game on earth, and the only one. It's Hide-and-Seek behind the rushing
minutes. And, remember," he added, holding up a finger and chuckling
happily, "there's no hurry, the wind's a-blowing free, the sun is
warm, everything's sweet and careless--and so are we."
THE COMMON SIGNS
V
"But has he called yet?" asked Tim, remembering suddenly that it
wasn't fair to begin till the hider announced that he was ready. "He's
got to hoot first, you know. Hasn't he?" he added doubtfully.
"Listen!" replied the man of the long white roads. And he held his
feather close against his ear, while the others copied him.
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