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 



