It is said that there was only one lake at which all the animals and birds drank. The elephant, the king of the animals, went down and drank first along and he made the water muddy; also he prevented the king of the birds the ostrich from drinking. All the birds complained bitterly because their king drank afterwards and because he drank muddy water. There arose a great war between the animals and the birds. When the fighting began the animals prevailed over the birds. The bat ran away; he was on who sat on the fence.
And so, after some days, the eagle asked that he might be the king of the birds and lead them all into the fight. The eagle was very brave, and the army of birds stood steadfast. The animals were beaten when the army of birds was led by the eagle. The bat asked to join up with the birds, but the birds drove him away because he did not help them when they were fighting. The bat then went and asked to join up with the animals, but they drove him away too. From that hour the bat resembled a rat with wings like a bird. He became ashamed to go about in the day-time. He went out when it was dark.
This story tells us that we ought not to be sitters on the fence.
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