“Oh, he isn’t as handsome as yours,” said the sister, “but he’s much more courageous and daring!”

“How do you know he is?” challenged Dunfin.

“For some time past there has been weeping and wailing amongst the sea gulls and wild ducks on the island.  Every morning at daybreak a strange bird of prey comes and carries off one of them.”

“What kind of a bird is it?” asked Dunfin.

“We don’t know,” replied the sister.  “One of his kind has never before been seen on the island, and, strange to say, he has never attacked one of us geese.  But now my intended has made up his mind to challenge him to-morrow morning, and drive him away.”

“Oh, I hope he’ll succeed!” said Dunfin.

“I hardly think he will,” returned the sister.  “If my goosey-gander were as big and strong as yours, I should have hope.”

“Do you wish me to ask Morten Goosey-Gander to meet the strange bird?” asked Dunfin.

“Indeed, I do!” exclaimed Prettywing excitedly.  “You couldn’t render me a greater service.”

The next morning the goosey-gander was up before the sun.  He stationed himself on the highest point of the island and peered in all directions.  Presently he saw a big, dark bird coming from the west.  His wings were exceedingly large, and it was easy to tell that he was an eagle.  The goosey-gander had not expected a more dangerous adversary than an owl, and how he understood that he could not escape this encounter with his life.  But it did not occur to him to avoid a struggle with a bird who was many times stronger than himself.

The great bird swooped down on a sea gull and dug his talons into it.  Before the eagle could spread his wings, Morten Goosey-Gander rushed up to him.  “Drop that!” he shouted, “and don’t come here again or you’ll have me to deal with!” “What kind of a lunatic are you?” said the eagle.  “It’s lucky for you that I never fight with geese, or you would soon be done for!”

Morten Goosey-Gander thought the eagle considered himself too good to fight with him and flew at him, incensed, biting him on the throat and beating him with his wings.  This, naturally, the eagle would not tolerate and he began to fight, but not with his full strength.

The boy lay sleeping in the quarters where Akka and the other wild geese slept, when Dunfin called:  “Thumbietot, Thumbietot!  Morten Goosey-Gander is being torn to pieces by an eagle.”

“Let me get up on your back, Dunfin, and take me to him!” said the boy.

When they arrived on the scene Morten Goosey-Gander was badly torn, and bleeding, but he was still fighting.  The boy could not battle with the eagle; all that he could do was to seek more efficient help.

“Hurry, Dunfin, and call Akka and the wild geese!” he cried.  The instant he said that, the eagle flew back and stopped fighting.

“Who’s speaking of Akka?” he asked.  He saw Thumbietot and heard the wild geese honking, so he spread his wings.