THE ANIMALS AND THE BIRDS PLAY BALL
Once the animals dared the birds to play a game of ball with them. The birds chose the eagle for their captain, and the animals chose the bear.
They all talked at the same time, trying to make their plans. When should they play? Where should they play? "Leave that to the eagle and the bear," said the deer. And all agreed.
At the appointed time the animals met on a smooth, grassy plain and the birds in a tree top near by.
Captain Bear was so large and heavy that he could pull down anyone who came in his way. All along the trail to the ball ground he tossed up great logs to show his strength; and he bragged of what he would do to the birds when the game began.
The turtle, at that time, was very much larger than he is now. His shell was so hard that the heaviest blows could not hurt him.
He, too, was a great brag. Again and again he rose on his hind feet and dropped heavily to the ground. "Look at me," he said. "See how I will crush any bird that tries to take the ball from me." The swift deer, the mountain goat, and the rabbit were at their best speed. Indeed, the animals had a fine team.
The eagle gathered his forces together. There was the hawk, strong and swift, and the wild geese that can fly without resting. The black martin was there and the crow, with a host of other birds. The blue jay was chosen to scream in the ears of the animal players, and the humming bird to fly in their eyes.