a big ant-heap and hold my bushy tail on high where 

 all will see it shining silver and gold in the sunlight." 



" Good ! " said the Lion. " It is better so, perhaps, 

 for you would never fight ; and as soon as one begins 

 to run, others follow ! " 



The Things of the Air gathered in their numbers, 

 and the Eagle led them, showing them how to make 

 \\ up for their weakness by coming swiftly down in 

 ^numbers where they found their enemies alone or 

 weak ; how to keep the sun behind them so that it 

 would shine in their enemies' eyes and blind them ; 

 and how the loud-voiced ones should attack on the 

 rear and scream suddenly, while those with bill and 

 claw swooped down in front and struck at the eyes. 



And for a time it went well with the Things of the 

 Air. The little birds and locusts and butterflies came 

 in clouds about the Lion and he could see nothing as 

 he moved from place to place ; and the Things of the 

 Earth were confused by these sudden attacks ; and, 

 giving up the fight, began to flee from their places. 



Then the Jackal, believing that 'he would not be 

 found out, cheated : he kept his tail up to make them 

 think they were not beaten. The Lion roared to 

 them, so that all could hear, to watch the hill where 

 the Jackal stood and see the sign of victory ; and the 

 Things of the Earth, being strong, gathered together 

 again and withstood the enemy and drove them off. 



The battle was going against the Things of the Air 

 when the Go'way bird came to the Eagle and said : 



" It is the Jackal who has done this. Long ago we 

 had won ; but, Cheat and Coward, he kept his tail 



356 



