it was now determined that on this fine morning they should at once begin to ascend, so that hereafter no one should be able to say, "i could easily have flown much higher, but the evening came on, and i could do no more." on a given signal, therefore, the whole troop rose up in the air. the dust ascended from the land, and there was tremendous fluttering and whirring and beating of wings, and it looked as if a black cloud was rising up. the little birds were, however, soon left behind. they could go no farther, and fell back to the ground. the larger birds held out longer, but none could equal the eagle, who mounted so high that he could have picked the eyes out of the sun. and when he saw that the others could not get up to him, he thought, "why shouldst thou fly still higher, thou art the king?" and began to let himself down again. the birds beneath him at once cried to him. "thou must be our king, no one has flown so high as thou." "except me,"