A Bat, trying to fly one
day, fell to the
ground, and a Weasel caught him.
The
Bat begged the Weasel not to kill him.
"There is nothing I hate like a bird,"
said
the Weasel; "I always kill them."
"But I am not a bird," said
the Bat, as he
folded his wings close to his
sides; "birds
don't come tumbling down as
I did; and
besides, don't you see my little smooth head,
and my ears?"
"Yes, yes," said the Weasel,
"I did not
notice them at first. I see you are a mouse,"
so he let him go.
Some time after, the
Bat took another
flight, and again fell to
the ground; and
caught him.
"Pray don't kill me,"
said the Bat.
"Certainly I shall," said
the Weasel; "I
kill mice wherever I find them."
"But stop a moment," said the Bat,
spread-
ing his wings; "I am not
a mouse. Don't
you see my great wings? A mouse can't fly,
can it?"
"I beg your pardon," said the
Weasel; "I
did not know that you were a bird; I thought
you were a mouse. I see I
was mistaken."
Then he let him go.
So the wise Bat escaped a second
time.
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