Early the next morning the geese made ready to go without breakfast. Raven was hungry but the geese would not wait. As they flapped their wings and started, Father Goose said, “We will stop once on the way to rest; then our next flight will bring us to the other shore.” Raven began to be afraid, but he was ashamed to say so.
The geese flapped their wings slowly and flew steadily, heavily along. Raven, with outspread wings, glided ahead. After a long time Raven began to fall behind. His wings ached. The geese flew steadily on. Raven flapped heavily along, then glided on his outstretched wings. But he grew more and more tired. He fell farther and farther behind. At last the geese looked back. Father Goose said, “He must be tired. I thought he was light and active. We will wait.”
Shoup’s Glacier, Valdez
Birdseye View of Valdez
The geese settled close together in the water. Raven flew slowly up, gasping for breath. He sank down upon their backs. When Raven had his breath again, he put his hand on his breast. He said, “I have an arrow here from an old war. It pains me greatly. That is why I fell behind.”
After resting, the geese rose from the water. They flapped slowly along. Raven flew with them. After a while, Raven began to fall behind. He grew more and more tired. At last the geese looked back. Father Goose said, “He must be tired. We will wait.” So the geese sank down together in the water, while Raven flew slowly up to them and sank down upon their backs.