Bannertail 



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A Hawk came wheeling high over the 

 tree tops. He was not hunting, for he 

 wheeled and whistled as he wheeled. Sil- 

 vergray knew him well, and marked his 

 ample wings. She had seen a Redtail 

 raid. This might not be of the bandit 

 kind, but a Hawk is a Hawk. She gave 

 a low, warning "Chik, chik" to the fam- 

 ily, to which they paid not a whit of at- 

 tention. So she seized each in turn by 

 the handy neck-scruff, and bundled him 

 indoors to safety. 



Three times this took place on different 

 days. Three times the mother's vigorous 

 lug home was needed, and by now the les- 

 son was learned. "Chik, chik" meant 

 "Look out; danger; get home." 



They were growing fast now. Their 

 coats were sleek and gray. Their tails 

 were as yet poor skimps of things, but 

 their paws were strong and their claws 

 were sharp as need be. They could 



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