Kookooskoos and the Wrong Rat. 63 



little clearing. " That 's his watch tower," I thought. 

 " While I was watching the deer, he was up there 

 watching my head, and when it moved he swooped." 



I had no intention of giving him another flight at 

 the same game, but hid my fur cap some distance out 

 in the clearing, tied a long string to it, went back into 

 the thicket with the other end of the string, and sat 

 down to wait. A low Whooo-hoo-hoo ! came from across 

 the valley to tell me I was not the only watcher in the 

 woods. 



Towards dusk I noticed suddenly that the top of 

 the old stub looked a bit peculiar, but it was some 

 time before I made out a big owl sitting up there. I 

 had no idea how long he had been there, nor whence 

 he came. His back was towards me; he sat up very 

 straight and still, so as to make himself just a piece, the 

 tip end, of the stub. As I watched, he hooted once 

 and bent forward to listen. Then I pulled on my 

 string. 



With the first rustle of a leaf he whirled and poised 

 forward, in the intense attitude an eagle takes when he 

 sights the prey. -On the instant he had sighted the 

 cap, wriggling in and out among the low bushes, and 

 swooped for it like an arrow. Just as he dropped his 

 legs to strike, I gave a sharp pull, and the cap jumped 

 from under him. He missed his strike, but wheeled 



