94 



Gogga Brown 



After this the birds agreed to have their feast, 

 but first made a prisoner of the lark, and after 

 that they looked for a prison and put him in a 

 hole. As they wanted some one to look after 

 him, while they were feasting, they said to the 

 owl, 4< You have the largest eyes and must be 

 able to see well. Now you look after the lark 

 and mind that he does not escape.** The lark 

 got a bit of reed and began poking and poking 

 at the eyes of the owl, and at last he said, M Oh ! 

 you can*t see, I shall go.** On this he flew off 

 into the veld, and did not dare come back again 

 for fear of the big birds. From that day the lark 

 always stays in the veld, and makes its nest there, 

 and not on a rock or on a tree as other birds do. 



After the feast the birds came to get the lark, 

 but, on coming to the hole, they found the lark 

 was gone. The owl knew nothing about it ; the 

 place was searched well, and some of the birds 

 went into the hole, but no lark could be found. 

 The big birds said to the owl, "As you let him 

 go, you will have to die,'* but, as they had filled 

 themselves with food, they were not able to kill 

 the owl. They therefore told the small birds to 

 peck the owl to death, and this is the reason 

 why, from that day, whenever the owl stirs about 

 he is followed by the small birds. 



