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Show 109 X^'They're too little," Toho whispered. "They're so soft to hold. Sometimes the older chick will eat the younger bird if there's not enough food. So it's good if Sotuknang gives us the younger bird, then it will not be killed." Chua secured one end of the rope to the tree and the other around Toho's belly. "Do you want the net?" asked Chua. "No," Toho said. "I will use my father's blanket for luck." Chua lowered the rope as Toho climbed down the cliff. Silently Toho descended the canyon wall with his blanket ready to throw over the eagle. The great bird still slept. Chua could not see Toho. He stood on the bluff with his feet braced, letting the rope out one hand at a time until it was taut. Chua peered over the cliff. Toho stood on a ledge just above the eagle. Toho opened the blanket and threw it over the eagle. The great bird stirred.' Toho reached down to grab him. "Kee, kee, kee," screamed the eagle in a high-pitched voice. He poked his head out from under the blanket, flapped his great wings and struggled out of the blanket and out of the nest. "Kee, kee, kee," he screeched again. The eagle few downward and then circled up above the canyon. Toho teetered^on the ledge over the nest. Chua held the tight rope to make sure Toho was safe. Toho gathered up the blanket and straighten the crumpled pahos he had thrown yesterday. "We need you, eagle," called Toho into the air. "You must come with us." |