The next evening, just at dusk, Jasper Jay and old Mr. Crow returned to Solomon 's house, looking much bedraggled. One of Mr. Crow's eyes was almost closed; and Jasper Jay's seemed to have been torn half off his head.  
“What's the matter?” asked Solomon, as soon as he saw them.
 
“We've had three fights,” said Jasper Jay.
 
“Yes! And I've whipped him each time!” cried Mr. Crow. “So I must be in the right. And you'd better decide our dispute in my favor at once.”
 
But Solomon Owl was still in no hurry.
 
“It's a difficult question to settle,‘ said he. ’I don't want to make any mistake. So I shall have to ask you to come back here to-morrow at this time.”
 
Both Jasper and Mr. Crow seemed disappointed. Although Mr. Crow had won each fight, he was very weary, for he was older than Jasper Jay.
 
As they went off, Solomon Owl began to feel much pleased with himself.
 
The following evening, at sunset, old Mr. Crow and Jasper Jay visited Solomon Owl once more. And they looked more than ever.
 
“We've had three more fights,” said Mr. Crow.
 
“Yes! And I won each time!” Jasper Jay piped up. “So I must be in the right. And you'd better decide in my favor without any further delay.”
 
 
Solomon Owl thought deeply for some time.
 
“Maybe I ought to wait until to-morrow——” he began.
 
But his callers both shouted “No!”
 
“Well,” said Solomon, “Mr. Crow has won three fights; and Jasper Jay has won three. So it is certain that each must be in the w............