A King from High
In a certain small jungle lived a large number of birds. The jungle abounded in sweet fruits. A river flowed through it. In summer the birds went and dipped their beaks and flapped their wings in the water, cooling themselves. A crow was their king. He was kind and clever. Looking at the clouds he could know about the coming of a storm. From the footsteps of the running animals, he could know if a hunter had entered the forest. Accordingly, he warned the bird folk to be on their guard. Days passed happily. However, as luck would have it, the king-crow fell ill. He called the birds to the tree in which he lived and told them that after his death they should look upon a certain old owl as their king. "Trust one of your own creatures, one whom you know. If he proves unworthy, you can take him to task. Don't go after a stranger." he warned.
Soon thereafter the crow died. The leading members of the community of birds went to meet the owl. In the hollow of the old banyan tree sat the old owl. He looked wise, but not quite smart. "Our late king asked us to choose you as our new king," a robin informed the owl. "I see," muttered the owl. Silence followed. "We hope, you'd agree to the proposal," said a dove. "I don't care to be a king. I don't mind either," said the owl, "since the late king, who was my friend, expressed such a wish," The birds left him alone and settled down in a big tree for a conference. "I don't like the owl at all," remarked a lark. "A king ought to be a spirited creature. The owl is not," observed a parrot. "I can make a far better king," boasted a Patridge. This made many birds laugh. "If you can be a king, dear Patridge, then I can be an emperor," said a little pigeon. This dialogue between the Patridge and the pigeon put ideas into the heads of the other birds. "To be frank; I feel that after the wise crow it is now my turn to rule," claimed a kite. "No, sir, the turn is mine," retorted a kingfisher. Soon each of the birds began claiming his right to the rulership and each one disputed everyone else's right. There was an uproar. It continued for a very long time. Then someone raised his voice over the clamor and said, "Let us go up flying. Whoever can fly highest should become the king." The proposal appealed to all.
They flew up together. Into the clouds, they went. Many were tired, but nobody was willing to give up. "No doubt, I have reached the highest point," exclaimed a crow. "Pooh, don't you see that I am flying at a higher level?" challenged a kite. And soon each one screamed out his claim that he had reached the highest point. However, a tiny Patridge who was flying at a very low level shouted at others, "I can see someone flying far above all of us. He is flying so high that there cannot be any doubt about his greatness." All looked up. A hawk was flying above the clouds. They all requested him to come down. The hawk, with an impressive swoop, settled down on a hillock. The birds sat down on the ground before him. "What do you want of me?" he asked. "We are without a king. We want you to be our king. Will, you kindly oblige us?" they asked, quite impressed with the hawk's personality. There was no hawk in their forest. "Why not!" said the hawk politely but gravely. All were happy. The hawk gave them a long lecture on a variety of subjects which convinced them that he was the wisest creature that ever lived. "A king ought not to move about without a couple of courtiers following him," said the hawk. Then looking at two young pigeons, he chose them for his companions. The pigeons felt highly honored. The hawk went off for a flying survey of the forest, along with the two escorts He flew onto a high cliff, beyond the sight of the birds, and then before the pigeons knew what he was doing, he knocked them down and ate up portions of them.
He continued to do this day after day. Every day he chose two birds for his courtiers and ate them up. At first, the other birds though that those who did not return were busy running the king's errands. But slowly they grew suspicious. One day they gathered before the hawk and said, "Your Majesty, We see that many of our citizens are missing particularly the privileged ones who give you company!" "I too have noticed that. What happened to them?" asked the hawk. "We don't know. We ask you," said the birds. "Good. Let me tell you what happens to them," said the hawk. "You kill them! As your king, I must punish you!" Then the hawk swooped down upon the birds. They screamed and cried, but many got killed and many were injured. In a panic, some flew away as fast as they could. The hawk then took off and flew away to his own region. A few days later the surviving birds of the forest, maimed and dazed, came together again and made the old owl their king realizing their folly.
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