Page 28 - Arrow Publications Pvt. Ltd.

“Perhaps, you could carry me,” said the tortoise.

“How will we carry you? That’s not possible,” said the swans.

“If you two could hold a stick in your beaks, I could hold onto it,” said the tortoise.

“That sounds a good idea,” said the swans. “We could give it a try.”

“There’s no harm in trying,” said the tortoise.

The friends went in search of a long stick. When they found one, the swans took
hold of either end of the stick, and the tortoise gripped the

middle of the stick with his teeth. Why did the swans search for
a long stick?
The swans flapped their wings and rose up into the air.

For a while they flew and came down again. They were pleased with themselves.

“It seems to work,” said the tortoise. “It’s indeed a clever idea,” said the swans.

But the first swan warned, “We must keep all our mouths shut when we are up in
the air.”

“Why can’t we talk?” asked
the tortoise.

“If you talk, you will go
crashing down to Earth!”

replied the first swan.

“Don’t forget that we can

fly, but you can’t,” said the
second swan.

“I do talk a lot, but I shall
remember to keep quiet.

And you two will have to be
quiet too,” said the tortoise.

“Okay then. We shall leave in
the morning. Now let’s get

some rest, for we have a long

way to go,” said the swans.

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Arrow-English Plus-3