THE KING OP THE BIRDS. 
137 
of country, and overwhelms the forest; rising 
and rising, until it looks like a vast lake, and 
the trees seem to be growing out of the water. 
Then there is a terrible scene of confusion. 
The monkeys climb to the highest branches, 
and survey the desolation beneath ; the birds 
flutter about, screaming with despair as their 
nests are carried away by the water. The 
larger animals struggle to escape ; but many of 
them are drowned, or fall victims to the alli- 
gator, who is swimming about amongst the 
trees. Above all, tower the eagle and the vul- 
ture, making the most of the general calamity, 
and satisfying their rapacious appetites. 
For a time, chaos seems to reign. But 
the flood retires, and Nature makes haste to 
repair the mischief. The trees wear a brighter 
foliage, the flowers spring in greater profusion 
from the moist earth. ' The wild beasts go 
back to their haunts; and the birds build their 
nests, and flutter again amongst the branches. 
Order is restored, and life goes on as it did 
before in the forest. 
" O Lord, how manifold are thy works 1 in 
wisdom hast thou made them all : the earth 
is full of thy riches.'' 
