These were, no doubt, the older and wiser ones.

Others kept trying their prowess in lofty leaping; but, although the most active of them could get their noses within a few inches of the meat, it only tantalised them the more.

One, however, who seemed the best jumper of the pack, at last succeeded in snatching a small piece that hung lower than the main bunch.

He was immediately set upon as soon as he had touched the ground, and chased and worried by the rest, until he was glad to drop the morsel to save himself.

His success, however, emboldened others to try; and they went on springing upward as before--but to no purpose.
A new idea, however, seemed now to have got into the heads of the older ones; they who up to this time had sat looking on.