"'Indeed, sir,' one of the strangers said. 'May I ask whether you are
any one in particular?'

"'We are Cranes,' Mr. Gander replied, 'and when I tell you so you will
understand that we like to be by ourselves.'

"The strangers looked at each other in surprise a moment, and stepped
back as if not knowing what to do, which made old Mr. Gander think he
was wise in claiming to be something better than a common goose. Finally
one of the visitors asked:

"'Are all the cranes in this country like you?'

"'Why shouldn't they be?' Mr. Gander said gruffly.

"'There is no reason that we know of, being strangers here; but the fact
is that we also are cranes, who have just come over from Africa, as you
can tell by our black faces, and it surprises us to find such a
different looking family here.'

"Just then two real cranes, who had been feeding on the shore of the
pond, rose in the air, and, seeing the strangers, one of them cried:

"'Hello, brothers, why are you spending your time with those silly
geese? Come over to the pond where you'll find decent company!'

"The cranes from Africa didn't stay with the geese any longer, and, of
course, they told what old Mr. Gander had said. Since that time the
cranes and the swans won't let one of our family come anywhere near