An ant went to the river to get a drink. The water rushed along so
fast that he was washed off the bank into the river.
"I shall drown!" he cried. "Help! help! help!" but his voice was
so tiny that it could not be heard.
A dove was sitting in a tree that overhung the water. She saw the
ant struggling, and quickly nipped off a leaf and let it fall into
the water. The ant climbed upon it and floated down the river
until the leaf was washed upon the bank of the stream.
The ant called out in its tiny voice, "Thank you, kind dove, you
have saved my life;" but of course the dove could not hear him.
Several days after this, the dove was again sitting in a tree. A
hunter crept carefully up to the tree. His gun was pointed at the
dove and he was about to shoot, when he was bitten in the leg by
an ant.
He cried out with pain and dropped his gun. This frightened the
dove and she flew away.
"Thank you, kind ant," cooed the dove, and the ant heard and was
glad.