This book is dedicated to the Brookside library staff.

Many years ago, in a place we now call Sierra Leone, the Mende people lived in dozens of little villages scattered all across the land.

Most of the people were farmers...

...but there were also traders, and blacksmiths, and woodcutters, and...

...thieves!

One day, four thieves went out to the country to argue about who was the greatest.

I am certainly the greatest thief, since I robbed the magic potions from a very powerful witch!

Nay, it is I who is the greatest, for I once stole the goats from every farm in a neighboring village.

In fact, I am the greatest thief, because I once crept into a sleeping man's hut, and took a sack of silver coins he was holding onto.

Z

Z

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You all pale in comparison to me! Only last week, I stole twenty crates of diamonds from a merchant ship that was passing by.

WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU! No one could ever do such a thing.

Why don’t I do something for you right now to prove that I am capable of it. I am going to take Eagle’s eggs from right under her nose.

That's impossible! Eagle never takes her eyes off her eggs!

Why don’t we make this a little more interesting?

If I can steal the eggs, then you must all turn yourselves in to the village chief.

You are all wanted criminals, so he will have to arrest you.

But if you can't steal her eggs, you must turn yourself in.

So they agreed, and the adventurous thief set out climbing the tree upon which Eagle’s nest rested.