← a large pigeon had flown into her face, and was beating her violently with its wings. 🔊
← ‘Serpent, I say again!’ repeated the Pigeon, but in a more subdued tone, and added with a kind of sob, ‘I’ve tried every way, and nothing seems to suit them!’ 🔊
← ‘I’ve tried the roots of trees, and I’ve tried banks, and I’ve tried hedges,’ the Pigeon went on, without attending to her; 🔊
← Alice was more and more puzzled, but she thought there was no use in saying anything more till the Pigeon had finished. 🔊
← ‘And just as I’d taken the highest tree in the wood,’ continued the Pigeon, raising its voice to a shriek, 🔊
← ‘I’m a--I’m a--’ ‘Well! What are you?’ said the Pigeon. 🔊
← ‘A likely story indeed!’ said the Pigeon in a tone of the deepest contempt. 🔊
← ‘I don’t believe it,’ said the Pigeon; ‘but if they do, why then they’re a kind of serpent, that’s all I can say.’ 🔊
← This was such a new idea to Alice, that she was quite silent for a minute or two, which gave the Pigeon the opportunity of adding, ‘You’re looking for eggs, I know that well enough; 🔊
← ‘Well, be off, then!’ said the Pigeon in a sulky tone, as it settled down again into its nest. 🔊