But one by one they dropped to earth; for when they had reached the Great Sky Trail beyond the clouds, they were too tired to take it.
At last the eagle arose and stretched his great wings.
"Listen," he said, "for the Chief of Birds speaks. No other bird is so swift and so strong as the eagle. He has circled the earth. He has flown to the rim of the world. The eagle will fly the Great Sky Trail and bring the song to earth."
A little brown thrush sat near the eagle.
"Oh," he thought, "how I would like to bring that song to earth!"
But he was so small, and his wings were so tired!
Then an idea popped into the little brown head of the thrush. He hopped softly to the back of the eagle, and hid in the thick feathers near the neck. So small and light was the thrush, that the eagle did not feel his weight. He did not know that the little brown thrush was on his back,—and the other birds did not tell him.
The eagle spread his great wings. Up, and up, and up, they soared. The council wood became a little speck and then was seen no more. Over, and under, and through the clouds, on, and on, and on, they sailed, along the Great Sky Trail.
At last the eagle's strength began to fail. He could go no further. The great wings of the chief of birds could beat the air no longer. They fell at his side.