and seek a new home, for if they
stayed in their old one, which they loved so much, they would
certainly die of thirst.

Earnestly they watched the sky for many hours before they tucked their
heads under their wings and fell asleep from sheer weariness, but not
the tiniest cloud was to be seen covering the stars that shone so big
and brilliant, and hung so low in the heavens that you felt as if you
could touch them. So, when the morning broke, they made up their
minds that they must go and tell the turtle of their plans, and bid
him farewell.

They found him comfortably curled up on a pile of dead rushes, more
than half asleep, for he was old, and could not venture out in the
heat as he once used.

'Ah! here you are,' he cried; 'I began to wonder if I was ever going
to see you again, for, somehow, though the lake has grown smaller, I
seem to have grown weaker, and it is lonely spending all day and night
by oneself!'

'Oh! my friend,' answered the elder of the two ducks, 'if you have
suffered we have suffered also. Besides, I have something to tell you,
that I fear will cause you greater pain still. If we do not wish to
die of thirst we must leave this place at once, and seek another where
the sun's rays do not come. My heart bleeds to say this, for there is
nothing--nothing else in the world--which would have induced us to
separate from you.'

The turtle was so astonished as well as so distressed at the duck's
speech that for a moment he could find no words to reply. But when he
had forced back his tears, he said in a shaky voice:

'How can you think that I am able to live without you, when for so
long you have been my only friends? If you leave me, death will
speedily put an end to my grief.'

'_Our_ sorrow is as great as yours,' answered the other duck, 'but
what can we do? And remember that if we are not here to drink the
water, there will be the more for you! If it had not been for this
terrible misfortune, be sure that nothing would have parted us from
one whom we love so dearly.'

'My friends,' replied the turtle, 'water is as necessary to me as to
you, and if death stares in your faces, it stares in mine also. But in
the name of all the years we have passed together, do not, I beseech
you, leave me to perish here alone! Wherever you may go take me with
you!'

There was a pause. The ducks felt wretched at the thought of
abandoning their old comrade, yet, at the same time, how could they
grant his pr