Well , not only could they not understand each other , but they forgot their manners . `` I -- want -- you -- to -- get -- into -- the -- nest , '' the bird called , speaking as slowly and distinctly as possible , `` and -- then -- you -- can -- drift -- ashore , but -- I -- am -- too -- tired -- to -- bring -- it -- any -- nearer -- so -- you -- must -- try to -- swim -- to -- it . '' `` What are you quacking about ? '' Peter answered . `` Why do n't you let the nest drift as usual ? '' `` I -- want -- you -- '' the bird said , and repeated it all over . Then Peter tried slow and distinct . `` What -- are -- you -- quacking -- about ? '' and so on . The Never bird became irritated ; they have very short tempers . `` You dunderheaded little jay , '' she screamed , `` Why do n't you do as I tell you ? '' Peter felt that she was calling him names , and at a venture he retorted hotly : `` So are you ! '' Then rather curiously they both snapped out the same remark : `` Shut up ! '' `` Shut up ! '' Nevertheless the bird was determined to save him if she could , and by one last mighty effort she propelled the nest against the rock . Then up she flew ; deserting her eggs , so as to make her meaning clear . Then at last he understood , and clutched the nest and waved his thanks to the bird as she fluttered overhead . It was not to receive his thanks , however , that she hung there in the sky ; it was not even to watch him get into the nest ; it was to see what he did with her eggs . There were two large white eggs , and Peter lifted them up and reflected . The bird covered her face with her wings , so as not to see the last of them ; but she could not help peeping between the feathers .
I forget whether I have told you that there was a stave on the XXXXX , driven into it by some buccaneers of long ago to mark the site of buried treasure .
drift effort eggs feathers names overhead remark rock sky venture