The eagle looked keenly at the hen and said: "I would never have believed that you would behave so badly. I promise you that, whenever you have found my ring, I will come down again and take you for my mate. As a punishment for breaking your promise you shall always scratch the ground and look for the ring, and all your chickens that I find I will snatch away from you. That is all. Good-by." Then he flew away.
And ever since, all the hens all over the world have been scratching to find the eagle's ring.
Note.—The bird of whom this story is told is the dapay, or brahman kite. It is larger than most of our hawks and is more like the eagle in appearance, although not very large.
CHAPTER 15
The Spider and the Fly.
Mr. Spider was once in love with Miss Fly. Several times he declared his love, but was always repelled, for Miss Fly disliked his business.
One day, when she saw him coming, she closed the doors and windows of her house and made ready a pot of boiling water.
Mr. Spider called to be allowed to enter the house, but Miss Fly's only answer was to throw the boiling water at him.
"Well!" cried Mr. Spider, "I and my descendants shall be avenged upon you and yours. We will never give you a moment's peace."
Mr. Spider did not break his word, for to this day we see his hatred of the fly.