Dickon made the stimulating discovery that in the wood in the park outside the garden where Mary had first found him piping to the wild creatures there was a deep little hollow where you could build a sort of tiny oven with stones and roast potatoes and eggs in it.  Roasted eggs were a previously unknown luxury and very hot potatoes with salt and fresh butter in them were fit for a woodland king—­besides being deliciously satisfying.  You could buy both potatoes and eggs and eat as many as you liked without feeling as if you were taking food out of the mouths of fourteen people.

Every beautiful morning the Magic was worked by the mystic circle under the plum-tree which provided a canopy of thickening green leaves after its brief blossom-time was ended.  After the ceremony Colin always took his walking exercise and throughout the day he exercised his newly found power at intervals.  Each day he grew stronger and could walk more steadily and cover more ground.  And each day his belief in the Magic grew stronger—­as well it might.  He tried one experiment after another as he felt himself gaining strength and it was Dickon who showed him the best things of all.

“Yesterday,” he said one morning after an absence, “I went to Thwaite for mother an’ near th’ Blue Cow Inn I seed Bob Haworth.  He’s the strongest chap on th’ moor.  He’s the champion wrestler an’ he can jump higher than any other chap an’ throw th’ hammer farther.  He’s gone all th’ way to Scotland for th’ sports some years.  He’s knowed me ever since I was a little ‘un an’ he’s a friendly sort an’ I axed him some questions.  Th’ gentry calls him a athlete and I thought o’ thee, Mester Colin, and I says, ‘How did tha’ make tha’ muscles stick out that way, Bob?  Did tha’ do anythin’ extra to make thysel’ so strong?’ An’ he says ’Well, yes, lad, I did.  A strong man in a show that came to Thwaite once showed me how to exercise my arms an’ legs an’ every muscle in my body.’  An’ I says, ’Could a delicate chap make himself stronger with ’em, Bob?’ an’ he laughed an’ says, ‘Art tha’ th’ delicate chap?’ an’ I says, ’No, but I knows a young gentleman that’s gettin’ well of a long illness an’ I wish I knowed some o’ them tricks to tell him about.’  I didn’t say no names an’ he didn’t ask none.  He’s friendly same as I said an’ he stood up an’ showed me good-natured like, an’ I imitated what he did till I knowed it by heart.”

Colin had been listening excitedly.

“Can you show me?” he cried.  “Will you?”

“Aye, to be sure,” Dickon answered, getting up.  “But he says tha’ mun do ‘em gentle at first an’ be careful not to tire thysel’.  Rest in between times an’ take deep breaths an’ don’t overdo.”

“I’ll be careful,” said Colin.  “Show me!  Show me!  Dickon, you are the most Magic boy in the world!”

Dickon stood up on the grass and slowly went through a carefully practical but simple series of muscle exercises.  Colin watched them with widening eyes.  He could do a few while he was sitting down.  Presently he did a few gently while he stood upon his already steadied feet.  Mary began to do them also.  Soot, who was watching the performance, became much disturbed and left his branch and hopped about restlessly because he could not do them too.