OWLS IN A VILLAGE 185 



to the shoulder of any person — man, woman, or 

 child — who happened to be out of doors. Men would 

 utter savage maledictions when they felt the demon 

 claws suddenly clutch them ; girls shrieked and fled 

 to the nearest cottage, into which they would rush, 

 palpitating with terror. Then there would be a 

 laugh, for it was only the tame owl ; but the same 

 terror would be experienced on the next occasion, and 

 young women and children were afraid to venture out 

 after nightfall lest the ghostly creature with luminous 

 eyes should pop down upon them. 



At length, one morning the bird came not back 

 from his night-wandering, and after two days and 

 nights, during which he had not been seen, he was 

 given up for lost. On the third day Mr Andrews 

 was in his orchard, when, happening to pass near 

 a clump of bushes, he heard the owl's note of re- 

 cognition very faintly uttered. The poor bird had 

 been in hiding at that spot the whole time, and 

 when taken up was found to be in a very weak 

 condition and to have one leg broken. No doubt 

 one of the villagers on whose shoulders it had sought 

 to alight, had struck it down with his stick and 

 caused its injury. The bone was skilfully repaired 

 and the bird tenderly cared for, and before long 

 he was well again and strong as ever ; but a change 



