faded from sight, and from the centre of the
circle there came an Eagle. Straight at the Crow flew the Eagle, and
away toward the mountains sped the Crow, in fright.

"The Crow knew that the Eagle would catch him, so that as soon as he
reached the trees on the mountains he turned himself into a Wren and
sought the small bushes under the tall trees. The Eagle saw the
change, and at once began turning over and over in the air. When he
had reached the ground, instead of an Eagle a Sparrow-hawk chased the
Wren. Now the chase was fast indeed, for no place could the Wren find
in which to hide from the Sparrow-hawk. Through the brush, into trees,
among the weeds and grass, flew the Wren with the Hawk close behind.
Once the Sparrow-hawk picked a feather from the Wren's tail--so close
was he to his victim. It was nearly over with the Wren, when he
suddenly came to a park along a river's side. In this park were a
hundred lodges of our people, and before a fine lodge there sat the
daughter of the chief. It was growing dark and chilly, but still she
sat there looking at the river. The Sparrow-hawk was striking at the
Wren with his beak and talons, when the Wren saw the young-woman and
flew straight to her. So swift he flew that the young-woman didn't see
him at all, but she felt something strike her hand, and when she looked
she saw a bone ring on her finger. This frightened her, and she ran
inside the lodge, where the fire kept the shadows from coming. OLD-man
had changed into the ring, of course, and the Sparrow-hawk didn't dare
to go into the lodge; so he stopped outside and listened. This is what
he heard OLD-man say:

"'Don't be frightened, young-woman, I am neither a Wren nor a ring. I
am OLD-man and that Sparrow-hawk has chased me all the day and for
nothing. I have never done him harm, and he bothers me without reason.'

"'Liar--forked-tongue,' cried the Sparrow-hawk. 'Believe him not,
young-woman. He has done wrong. He is wicked and I am not a
Sparrow-hawk, but conscience. Like an arrow I travel, straight and
fast. When he lies or steals from his friends I follow him. I talk
all the time and he hears me, but lies to himself, and says he does not
hear. You know who I am, young-woman, I am what talks inside a person.'

"OLD-man heard what the Sparrow-hawk said, and he was ashamed for once
in his life. He crawled out of the lodge. Into the shadows he ran
away--away into the night, and the darkness--