The other crows walked up and down along the wire.   They thought it was funny to see Stuart laying on his back in the mud.   They were more than a little scared of him, but they knew that he couldn't really hurt them.   First one and then another flew down and stood alongside Stuart.

When Stuart tried to flap one of his legs, the crows flew up and circled him.   Then they flew back to the ground and looked at him.

"Come on fellas," said Charlie.   "He won't hurt you.   Let's get him up so that he can get into the barn and get dried off.   Okay?"

"Okay, what do you want us to do?" asked the other crows.

Charlie walked around and around Stuart.   He looked at Stuart's arms and legs.

"Well, I think the first thing we need to do it get that stick out of his shirt sleeves.   I don't quite know how, but somehow..."

One of the crows said, "Let's pull it out...or push it out.   Would that work, Charlie?"

"Yeah, that might work," Charlie said.   "Three of you get on that end of the stick and the other three get on this end.   You three on that end, you start pulling.   You three on this end, you start pushing.   Stuart, you just relax and lay still.   We'll get you fixed up in no time at all."

Three crows starting pulling on the stick, while three more started pushing the stick from the other end of the shirt sleeve.

"Come on boys," yelled Charlie.   "Put your backs into it.   Now PUSH--PULL.   Careful, don't pull out the straw, the kid needs that.   Come on boys, you can do it!"

Stuart felt the stick moving.   It was sliding along his back and out of the sleeve.   He lay very still.   He wanted to help, but he was afraid if he moved, the stick might get stuck.   He hardly breathed.

At last, Stuart felt the stick move all the way out of his shirt.   He sat up and flapped his arms.   The crows were scared and flew up to the utility wire.

"Thanks for the help boys," yelled Charlie.

"Yeah, thanks," called Stuart.   "Thanks a lot."

"Come on, Stuart, let's go." said Charlie.

Stuart tried to stand up, but his knees buckled under him and down he flopped.   His fat fell forward over his right eye and he bent his head.

"It's no use, Charlie.   I just can't get up on my feet.   I'm going to have to sit out here like this, in the rain.   I'll get all muddy and soggy and Billy will be ashamed of me.   I just can't do it, Charlie," said Stuart as he started to cry.

Charlie flew up on Stuart's hat and pulled it back into place.   He flew down to the ground in front of Stuart.

"Now look kid," said Charlie as he paced back and forth in front of Stuart.

"I know that it is going to be hard.   I know that you are scared.   You've never done anything like this before.   I am here to help you.   You've got to be brave, kid.   You've got to have courage."

Stuart nodded his head.

Charlie went on, "Well now...I remember the very first time I tried to fly.   I fell right out of my nest, but I kept trying and in a few hours, I could fly and soar with the best of them.   Come on, Stuart, I'll help you."

"That's because you have wings," said Stuart.   "Feathers.   Feathers help you stay in the air."

Charlie hopped up on Stuart's leg.

"I'd only do this for you,kid,"said Charlie as he pulled a feather out of his tail.

"EE-YOUCH!   Put this in your shirt pocket, Stuart.   Here is your feather, a er-rr, magic feather.   It will help you walk."