when the appointed four years were over, the four brothers arrived at the same time at the cross-roads, embraced and kissed each other, and returned home to their father. "so now," said he, quite delighted, "the wind has blown you back again to me." they told him of all that had happened to them, and that each had learnt his own trade. now they were sitting just in front of the house under a large tree, and the father said, "i will put you all to the test, and see what you can do." then he looked up and said to his second son, "between two branches up at the top of this tree, there is a chaffinch’s nest, tell me how many eggs there are in it?" the astronomer took his glass, looked up, and said, "there are five." then the father said to the eldest, "fetch the eggs down without disturbing the bird which is sitting hatching them."