The pigeons, seeing that they were safely away from the fowler, asked the King what they should do next.
Speckle-neck said, “A friend of mine named ‘Golden-skin,’ King of the Mice, lives near by. We will go to him, and he will cut these bonds.” They accordingly directed their flight to the hole of Golden-skin.
They soon arrived at the home of the Mouse-king, and Speckle-neck called to his friend to come out. Golden-skin came to the entrance, and told his friend how pleased he was to see him. “But what does this mean?” he exclaimed, looking at the pigeons all tangled up in the net.
Speckle-neck told him what had happened to them, and without a word the Mouse-king began to gnaw at the strings which held his friend. But the worthy Pigeon-king bade him to release the others first, and leave him until the last.
To this Golden-skin objected, but King Speckle-neck said that he could not bear to see those who depended upon him in such distress. Such heroism made the Mouse-king’s fur bristle up for pure pleasure.
“Nobly spoken!” said he. “Such tenderness for those who are dependent upon you makes me proud to be your friend.” With this, he set himself to the great task of cutting all their bonds, and in time all were free.
The Mouse-king then entertained them as hospitably as he could. The Pigeon-king and his followers thanked him for his great kindness, and Golden-skin embraced them all, after which he returned to his hole and the pigeons departed.
You may be sure that the young pigeons decided that the older ones were wiser in counsel than they, and to be more careful when “daring” their fellows.