. Beasts and men . s of cries answered his question, onebird speaking against another. What is flight compared to song ? asked the nightingale. Let the sweetest singer among us reign. The canary and the throstle and the blackcap all agreedwith the nightingale, but they were shouted down. no THE KING OF THE BIRDS Beauty, beauty!cried the peacock. That is the test! Aking should be re-splendent in gayrobes ! And hespread his gorgeoustail. Aye, there speakswisdom, gobbled theturkey, turning red inthe face, and struttingup and down. Whatdo you say, brother,he asked the cock. Shall we arrange it SO
. Beasts and men . s of cries answered his question, onebird speaking against another. What is flight compared to song ? asked the nightingale. Let the sweetest singer among us reign. The canary and the throstle and the blackcap all agreedwith the nightingale, but they were shouted down. no THE KING OF THE BIRDS Beauty, beauty!cried the peacock. That is the test! Aking should be re-splendent in gayrobes ! And hespread his gorgeoustail. Aye, there speakswisdom, gobbled theturkey, turning red inthe face, and struttingup and down. Whatdo you say, brother,he asked the cock. Shall we arrange it SO f A fig for gayfeathers ! cackled theostrich. Is our kingthen only to be lookedat, or is he to donothing all day butchirp and twitter foolishsongs ? As for flying,I found my wings ofso little use that I gaveup using them longago. My idea is thatwe should settle thismatter by a runningrace ! And so the birdswent on quarrellingand disputing until atlast the eagle called forsilence, and, address-ing the company IS OUR KING THEN ONLY TO BE LOOKED AT ? III FOLK TALES OF BEASTS AND MEN insisted upon the adoption of his own plan. He spokesternly and menacingly, and as all the birds went in fear ofhis curved beak and sharp talons, no further objections wereraised. It was agreed that the trial should take place at once;,and the cock was chosen to give the sigilal for the proud of the honour, he stationed himself on a littlegrassy knoll, and having ascertained that everybody wasready, gave a loud and clarion call. There was the soundas of a rushing mighty wind as all the birds sprang into theair. Only the eagle remained in his place, looking afterthe others a little contemptuously. So confident did hefeel in his ability to outfly them all, that he allowed themat least five minutes start. Then, very leisurely, he spreadhis wings and soared. Up, up, up he went; he overtookthe stragglers on the fringe of the crowd, passed through thethickest press, outdistanced the foremo
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