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forward once again. Without realizing it, he was drinking from the pail Bobby held in his hand.
    The next step was to rub the colt’s neck and face. Bobby quickly snapped on a lead rope and began to caress the colt, still talking and singing. He used words of encouragement and love and kindness. The black was not quite yet a yearling, but he was big enough to begin training. Bobby fastened the snubbing line to his halter and twirled the rope ends gently toward him in order to drive him away to the far walls of the corral.
    When Bobby lifted the training whip, the colt bolted as far and as fast as the line would permit. Then Bobby tickled the black on his rump with the end of the whip, causing him to go at a steady pace around the circle. It wasn’t long until the colt got tired of that and wanted to make friends with Bobby. Bobby then forced the colt to reverse his direction. After several rounds, the black flicked his ears back and forth, and began to make chewing motions with his mouth, indicating that he wanted to make friends now. He dropped his head and walked toward Bobby. Bobby smiled. “First step! Successful!” he thought.
    Bobby led the colt to a large open stall, put a portion of grain in a bucket and unhooked the lead rope, leaving the halter on. The colt had never eaten from a bucket. But the grain smelled good and his appetite overcame his wariness. Bobby gave him a final pat and left him alone.
    Cherokee tried to see into the stall where Man was taking the colt, but they disappeared through a door. All must be well. Man came out whistling, with a rope over his shoulder, striding easily toward his house.
    That night it snowed. Giant flakes, soft, white and beautiful. The coats of the horses were growing thick and warm, nature’s way of preparing them for cold weather. Cherokee remembered when he thought his thick coat felt like rabbit fur. Now he was grateful that Mother Nature took such good care of him and his family. He trotted to his mother, Dancing Shadow. “Mother, I am going to try to leave tonight.”
    “But the man can follow your tracks in the snow!” She answered.
    “I must go!”
    “Live in balance, Cherokee, squarely with the truth! You must reason that it is not the time to leave!”
    For the first time in his life, Cherokee dismissed his Mother’s words. “I will talk to Father. He will advise me of the right thing to do!”
    “You are like Sasa, a goose in a wheat field, that gobbles without a thought! But whatever you decide, remember that I love you.” And just to remind him of his bad manners, she added, “Others will reflect your mirror image. Always have pleasant manners.”
    Cherokee did not answer her, but turned and walked away. He was embarrassed, but a little angry, also. He was so sure she would agree with him. Well, his father would tell him it was wise to leave tonight! He had not given a thought to talking with the Great Spirit or consulting with Sunee.
     

-6-U tso nati  
    When Cherokee turned away from his mother, he saw Sunee watching him. “I did not think of my best friend,” he thought. “I am selfish.”
    “Sunee,” he called out.
    “I’m here, Cherokee. What is the matter?”
    “I’ve nearly made a mistake again. I just talked to Mother about leaving tonight and when she disagreed with me, I got angry and told her I was going to Father for advice. I was not polite to her.”
    “And?”
    “And I did not think of what you would want to do or what the Great Spirit would have us do. I was only thinking of myself. I am sorry.”
    “Then we must speak to the Great Spirit and discuss the matter together. When we have reached an agreement, we will again speak withour elders.”
    “Oh, Great Spirit,” pleaded Cherokee. “Please show us what to do. Should we leave our families behind? Is it time to journey so far without our elders to guide us?”
    Sunee prayed, too. “Great Spirit, if we are to make this journey, travel with us wherever the path may