But Dapple Gray rose on his hind legs and with his front feet knocked the robber heels over head, and then off he went on a gallop. And after a while, not so very long, Little Sir Cat saw a great white bird sitting on a gold egg. "Did you lay that golden egg, Mr. Big Bird?" he asked. But the great white bird didn't answer. Maybe she was frightened, or maybe she was waiting for the golden egg to hatch, for just then, all of a sudden, the shell broke open and out hopped twenty-one little white birds armed with swords. And one of them was dressed like a captain, with gold epaulets on his shoulder wings, and one had a drum, like a regular little drummer boy. And then they all began to sing:
We are the soldier birds of the air,
And we need no aeroplane,
For we can fly across the sky
In sunshine and in rain.
And if an enemy comes in view
With our bright sharp swords we'll cut him in two.
"Hurrah!" cried Little Sir Cat, and the great white mother bird flapped her wings, for she was mighty proud to think that she had raised a little sky army for Mother Goose Land.
Jack, be nimble!
Jack be quick!
Jack, jump over the candlestick!
Jack jumped when something struck his wheel,
For his candlestick was an automobile!
[ROCK-A-BYE BABY]
