not rain to-morrow," or, "You will need your bamboo-hat this time
to-morrow," it was as he said. He knew all about the things of nature
and how to make the earth yield best her fruits and seeds, and some
said he was a prophet.

One day Ah-Po caught a fine Mountain Turtle. It was so large that it
took both of Ah-Po's sons to carry it home. They tied its legs
together and hung it on a strong stick, and each son put an end of the
stick on his shoulder.

Ah-Po said, "We will not kill the Turtle. He is too old to eat, and I
think we will keep him and watch the rings grow around his legs each
year." So they gave him a corner in the barnyard and fed him rice and
water.

Ah-Po had many Chickens, and for three months the Turtle and Chickens
lived in peace with each other. But one day all the young Chickens
came together and laughed at the Turtle. Then they said to him, "Why
do you live here so long? Why do you not go back to your own place?
This small barnyard corner is not so good as your cave in the
wilderness. You have only a little sand and grass to live on here.
The servant feeds you, but she never gives you any wilderness fruits.
You are very large, and you take up too much room. We need all the
room there is here. You foolish old thing, do you think our fathers
and mothers want you? No. There is not one of our people who likes
you. Besides, you are not clean. You make too much dirt. The servant
girl gave you this water to drink, and your water bowl is even now
upside down. You scatter rice on our floor. Too many flies come here
to see you, and we do not like flies."

The Turtle waited until they had all finished scolding. Then he said,
"Do you think I came here myself? Who put me here, do you know? Do
you suppose I like to be in jail? You need not be jealous. I never
ate any rice that belonged to you or your family. I am not living in
your house. What are you complaining about? If our master should take
your whole family and sell it, he would only get one piece of silver.
Who and what are you to talk so much? Wait and see; some day I may
have the honoured place."

Some of the Chickens went home and told their mother, "We had an
argument with the Turtle to-day and he had the last word. To-morrow we
want you to go with us and show him that a Chicken can argue as well as
a Turtle."

The next day all the Chickens of the barnyard went to see the Turtle.
And the old Hen said, "My children ca