decide what it was best to do. When they were all assembled together,
they talked the matter over and decided to go and ask aid from the
Master of Life.

"'I have heard your complaint,' said the Master of Life when they
had finished, 'and I am willing to assist you. But first you must
understand that the cause of all your trouble is your love of fine
clothes. Your black and white uniforms are very beautiful, but they
are too con-spic'-u-ous for your safety. By day your enemies can spy
you afar because you are black; by night they can see you because you
are white.

"'Hereafter you shall wear different clothing. No longer shall your
feathers be black and white; they shall be black and brown and yellow.
When you sit upon the ground you shall look like the dry, brown grass,
and when you fly through the air your enemies shall not be able to mark
your flight from a distance. Thus it shall come to pass that, if you act
wisely, you shall live in peace and safety.'

"When they heard this the Bob Lincolns were grieved at heart. They
loved their gay black and white uniforms and sorrowed at the thought of
parting with them. So they humbly begged the Master of Life to let them
keep their gay clothing and tell them some other way of escaping their
enemies.

"'There is no other way,' said he. 'But tell me, when do you suffer
least from your enemies? Is it when you are dwelling in your old
northern home, or when you are dwelling in the sunny Southland?'
'When we are dwelling in our old homes,' answered the Bob Lincolns.