NOT ONE WORD," replied the ducks.

"All right, I promise," said the tortoise. "Sometimes I do not say
a word for a whole day because there is no one to listen to me."

"Well, take firm hold of the middle of the twig; we are ready to
start," said the gray duck.

"If you value your life, you must hold on tightly," said the white
duck.

The tortoise took hold of the middle of the twig and each duck
took hold of one end.

Then they flew up! up! up! while the tortoise swung from the
middle of the twig. How he enjoyed it! He had never had such a
ride.

They had gone a long way safely when they came to a hayfield. The
haymakers looked up and saw the ducks and the tortoise.

"Ho! ho! the tortoise has stolen some wings," called one of the
haymakers.

"What a queer carriage he has!" laughed another in a loud voice.

"I pity his horses," said another.

This made the tortoise so angry that he cried out, "You--" but no
one knows what he was going to say, for he fell to the ground and