It was known afterwards on the island as the Sparrows ' Year ; and so , when you meet grown-up people in the Gardens who puff and blow as if they thought themselves bigger than they are , very likely they belong to that year . You ask them . -LSB- Illustration : When you meet grown-up people in the Gardens who puff and blow as if they thought themselves bigger than they are -RSB- Peter was a just master , and paid his work-people every evening . They stood in rows on the branches , waiting politely while he cut the paper sixpences out of his bank-note , and presently he called the roll , and then each bird , as the names were mentioned , flew down and got sixpence . It must have been a fine sight . And at last , after months of labour , the boat was finished . O the glory of Peter as he saw it growing more and more like a great thrush 's nest ! From the very beginning of the building of it he slept by its side , and often woke up to say sweet things to it , and after it was lined with mud and the mud had dried he always slept in it . He sleeps in his nest still , and has a fascinating way of curling round in it , for it is just large enough to hold him comfortably when he curls round like a kitten . It is brown inside , of course , but outside it is mostly green , being woven of grass and twigs , and when these wither or snap the walls are thatched afresh . There are also a few feathers here and there , which came off the thrushes while they were building . The other birds were extremely jealous , and said that the boat would not balance on the water , but it lay most beautifully steady ; they said the water would come into it , but no water came into it . Next they said that Peter had no oars , and this caused the thrushes to look at each other in dismay ; but Peter replied that he had no need of oars , for he had a sail , and with such a proud , happy face he produced a sail which he had fashioned out of his nightgown , and though it was still rather like a nightgown it made a lovely sail . And that night , the moon being full , and all the birds asleep , he did enter his coracle -LRB- as Master Francis Pretty would have said -RRB- and depart out of the island . And first , he knew not why , he looked upward , with his hands clasped , and from that moment his eyes were pinned to the west . He had promised the thrushes to begin by making short voyages , with them as his guides , but far away he saw the Kensington Gardens beckoning to him beneath the bridge , and he could not wait . His face was flushed , but he never looked back ; there was an exultation in his little breast that drove out fear . Was Peter the least gallant of the English mariners who have sailed westward to meet the Unknown ? At first , his boat turned round and round , and he was driven back to the place of his starting , whereupon he shortened sail , by removing one of the sleeves , and was forthwith carried backwards by a contrary breeze , to his no small peril . He now let go the sail , with the result that he was drifted towards the far shore , where are black shadows he knew not the dangers of , but suspected them , and so once more hoisted his nightgown and went roomer of the shadows until he caught a favouring wind , which bore him westward , but at so great a speed that he was like to be broke against the bridge .
Which , having avoided , he passed under the bridge and came , to his great rejoicing , within full sight of the delectable XXXXX .
Gardens Peter Year coracle evening mariners night oars roomer thrushes