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king of the crows arose and sent a letter to the king of the kites, and said to him, "I want you to be my soldier." And he said, "I do not consent." And he said, "If you do not consent, you and I will fight." And he said, "Let us fight; if you beat me, I will obey you; if I beat you, you will obey me."

And they fought, and the crows were beaten. And an old one arose and said, "Let us flee." And they fled from their town, and went to another town. And when the kites came and saw no one, they lived in the town of the crows.

Till one day the crows took counsel. And an old one arose, and said, "Pluck off my feathers, and throw me into the town of the kites." And they plucked him, and threw him in.

And when the kites passed and saw him, they said to him, "What are you doing here in our town?" And he said, "My companions have beaten me, and turned me out of the town, because I told them to obey the kite."

And they took him and went with him to their king, and said to him, "We have picked up this crow; ask him, he will tell his business."