The seagull fell off as he leaned forward and as he fell a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a minute. The next moment he felt his wings spread outwards. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards and was no longer afraid. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly.