“Little by little, without knowing it, he yielded to the flattery of Mr. Coyote and Mr. Fox.  He liked to hear the pleasant things they said.  Little by little it became easier to find them in the right than in the wrong when they were accused of wronging their neighbors.  Of course they flattered him still more.  They hinted to him that it was beneath the dignity of one so big and strong and handsome to take notice of the very small and humble people like Mr. Meadow Mouse and Mr. Toad and Mr. Meadow Lark and others of his subjects.

“Gradually the little people of the Wide Prairies began to notice a change in Thunderfoot.  He became proud and vain.  He openly boasted of his strength and fine appearance.  When he met them he passed them haughtily, not seeing them at all, or at least appearing not to.  No longer did he regard the rights of others.  No longer did he watch out not to crush the nest of Mrs. Meadow Lark or to step on the babies of Danny Meadow Mouse.  It came about that when the thunder of his feet was heard, those with homes on the ground shivered with fright and hoped that my Lord of the Prairies would not come their way.

“One day, as he raced over the Wide Prairies for no reason but that he felt like running, Mr. Meadow Lark flew to meet him.  Mr. Meadow Lark was in great distress.  ‘Turn aside, my Lord!’ he begged.  ’Turn aside, my Lord of the Prairies, for before you lies my nest with four precious eggs, and I fear you will step on them!’

“Thunderfoot the Bison, Lord of the Wide Prairies, tossed his head.  ’If you will build your nest where it can be trodden on, you can’t expect me to look out for it,’ said he.  ’If anything so unfortunate happens to it, it is your own fault, and you mustn’t blame me.’  And he neither looked down to see where he was putting his feet nor turned aside so much as an inch.  On he galloped, and presently with a cry of fright out from beneath his feet flew Mrs. Meadow Lark, and at the very next step he trod on the little nest in the grass and crushed the four eggs.

“Mr. Coyote, who was racing beside him on one side and saw what had happened, grinned.  Mr. Fox, who was racing beside him on the other side and saw what had happened, grinned.  Seeing them grin, Thunderfoot himself grinned.  Thus grinning heartlessly, they continued to run until they came to a place where Mother Nature walked among the flowers of the Wide Prairies.  Mr. Coyote and Mr. Fox, whose heads were not held so high, saw her in time to put their tails between their legs and slink away.  Thunderfoot, holding his head high, failed to see her until he was so close to her that it was with difficulty he stopped before running her down.

“‘My Lord of the Prairies seems in fine spirits,’ said Mother Nature softly.  ‘Is all well with my Lord?’

“Thunderfoot tossed his head proudly.  ‘All is well,’ said he.

“‘I am sorry that others cannot say as much,’ replied Mother Nature, and all the softness was gone from her voice, and it was sharp.  ’I seem to hear the sobs of a broken-hearted little Meadow Lark,’ she continued.  ’Little though she be and humble, she is as much to me as is my Lord of the Prairies who has made her suffer.’