Of heroes that do and dare,
But here is a tale of adventure bold,
Of a goat, a crow, and a bear.
There’s a quarrel and fight,
And a desperate plot,
And a villain as bad as can be.
Oh, it is a tale worth talking about!
Just read it yourself, and see!
A SUDDEN gust of cold wind swept along the mountain side and rattled the dry leaves and dead branches of some jack-oak bushes that stood at the entrance of a snug little cave. Its sole occupant, awakened by the noise, opened his eyes and looked blinkingly up at the pale dawn-light that shone on the familiar rocks of the roof above him. Once awake, he realized that he was thirsty and hungry, but he hated to get up, it would be so nice to have just a little more sleep.
While the cave-dweller was deciding between the call of his stomach and his desire to sleep, a big bluejay, with feathers rumpled by the wind, lit on a rock at the cave entrance and, after peering within, called out: