Now, it's the spiritual part of us we want to strengthen, because that is the biggest strength we can get, an' it's worth more.

It's what gives us the rule over animals.

It's better for us to eat some other kind of food, if we get real weak and pindlin' on it, rather than eat animal food an' make the animal in us stronger than the spiritual, so we won't be any better than wild tigers an' bears, an' lose our rule over the other animals." Cephas took the rolling-pin and brought it heavily down upon the sticky mass on the board.

Sarah shuddered and started as if it had hit her.

"Now, if we can't eat animal food," said Cephas, "what other kind of food can we eat?
There ain't but one other kind that's known to man, an' that's vegetable food, the product of the earth.