"And you, raccoon, I cannot trust, for you would coax him to climb so high that he would fall and die.
"No, none of you can have the boy."
Now a great bird that lives in the sky had flown into the council tree, while the animals were speaking. But they had not seen him.
When Mother Bear had spoken, this wise old eagle flew down, and said, "Give the boy to me, Mother Bear. No bird is so swift and strong as the eagle. I will protect him. On my great wings I will bear him far away from the bear hunters.
"I will take him to the wigwam of an Indian friend, where a little Indian boy is wanted."
Mother Bear looked into the eagle's keen eyes. She saw that he could see far.
Then she said, "Take him, eagle, I trust him to you. I know you will protect the boy."
The eagle spread wide his great wings. Mother Bear placed the boy on his back, and away they soared, far from the council woods.
The eagle left the boy, as he had promised, at the door of a wigwam where a little Indian boy was wanted.
This was the first young American to be saved by an American eagle.