ght, we smoothed off the ground and strewed
ashes on it so that we could see the track. Then I raised the question:
"What constitutes creeping, and what constitutes walking?"

Uncheedah was the judge, and she stated, without any hesitation, that
an animal must stand clear of the ground on the support of its legs, and
walk with the body above the legs, and not in contact with the ground,
in order to be termed a walker; while a creeper is one that, regardless
of its legs, if it has them, drags its body upon the ground. Upon
hearing the judge's decision, I yielded at once to my opponent.

At another time, when I was engaged in a similar discussion with my
brother Chatanna, Oesedah came to my rescue. Our grandmother had asked
us:

"What bird shows most judgment in caring for its young?"

Chatanna at once exclaimed:

"The eagle!" but I held my peace for a moment, because I was
confused--so many birds came into my mind at once. I finally declared:

"It is the oriole!"

Chatanna was asked to state all the evidence that he had in support of
the eagle's good sense in rearing its young. He proceeded with an air of
confidence:

"The eagle is the wisest of all birds. Its nest is made in the safest
possible place, upon a high and inaccessible cliff. It provides its
young with an abundance of fresh meat. They have the freshest of air.
They are brought up under the spell of the grandest scenes, and inspired
with lofty feelings and bravery. They see that all other beings live
beneath them, and that they are the children of the King of Birds. A
young eagle shows the spirit of a warrior while still in the nest.

"Being exposed to the inclemency of the weather the young eaglets are
hardy. They are accustomed to hear the mutterings of the Thunder Bird
and the sighings of the Great Mystery. Why, the little eagles cannot
help being as noble as they are, because their parents selected for them
so lofty and inspiring a home! How happy they must be when they find
themselves above the clouds, and behold the zigzag flashes of lightning
all about them! It must be nice to taste a piece of fresh meat up in
their cool home, in the burning summer-time! Then when they drop down
the bones of the game they feed upon, wolves and vultures gather beneath
them, feeding upon their refuse. That alone would show them their
chieftainship over all the other birds. Isn't that so, grandmother?"
Thus triumphantly he concluded his argument.

I was stagger