't nob'dy noticin' dat nob'dy's seen
Young Tinky yet. But dere ain't nob'dy troublin much about nob'dy else
nohow.

"`Is you ready?' ses Ou' Jackalse. `Yes,' ses dey. `Den go!' ses he.

"Up dey goes, an' up, an' up, an' up. An' fust de partridge drops, an'
den de long-tail fink; and de Kurhaan she tink she never did hear no
such foolishness nohow, so down she drop too. An' dat way dey go on,
fust one an' den anoder droppin' out, till last of all dere ain't but
one left--Ole Baldy.

"Ole Baldy he go up, an' on, an' on, an' up, till at last he cahnt get
higher; but by jimminy, he is up dere. `How's dis for high?' ses he.

"All de birds look up, an' none of 'em cahnt say one word. `You's got
it,' ses Ou' Jackalse, `you's de highest.'

"`Is he?' squeaks a chinky little voice. `Is he?' an' dere, where
dey're all lookin', up pops little Tinky off'n Ole Baldy's back, where
he's bin hid in de feders widout Ole Baldy knowin'. `What price me
now?' ses he, an' up he go, yards up! `How's dis for higher?' ses he.

"Ole Baldy he turn his head an' look up. `Hello, you speck!' ses he,
`what you doin' up dere?'

"`Flyin' higher'n you,' ses Tinky. `Dat makes me de King.'

"`King!' ses Baldy. `If I could yust get up dere I'd King you. Come
down now!'

"`Oh, oh!' ses Tinky. `So you gi'es in you can't get up to me! Dat's
done den. I's King a' right,' an' he comes down yust as cheeky as
billy-o, wid his tink, tink, tink, tinky, till he gets to de ground.
Den he chucks a leg. `King Tinky!' ses he. `Dat's me.'

"Well, de birds dey all drop down an' dey wait for someb'dy to say
somefin'. But young Tinky he hop in front of Ou' Jackalse an' he stick
his coat tails out. `Well, Oom Jackalse,' ses he, `who's de smart 'un
to-day?'

"`I wish I was one o' de birds you's bin foolin',' ses Ou' Jackalse;
`I'd show you which was smart.'

"Just den Ole Baldy bounce down in front of 'em. `Who's King?' ses he.

"`De one dat went highest,' ses Ou' Modher Reyer, de Blue Crane.

"`An' dat's me,' ses Baldy.

"`An' dat's me,' ses Tinky, stickin' his little wings out an' bouncin'
hisse'f like he was mockin' Ole Baldy.

"`Look-a'-here,' ses Baldy, `if you ses anoder word I'll scoff you.'

"`Will you?' ses Young Tinky, settin' hisse'f in front of Ole Baldy like
a bantam. `You will, hey? Well--anoder word--dere, I's said it.'

"Ole Baldy yust look one look at Tinky, an' den he make one dive to
scoff him, straight. But he'