248 ON THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS 
man, crossing the fields, saw them emerge above 
him into the pasture and hop rapidly away, and 
wondered why. No dog emerged in pursuit. 
There was no hawk or owl overhead. Yet it was 
plain they were flying from some mortal peril. 
But his curiosity was not strong enough to lead 
him back into the bushes, and that is why Red 
Slayer was not hungry that night, but full to re- 
pletion as he snoozed in his snug, stolen chamber. 
But food grew scarce again, and sometimes 
Red Slayer wandered for many days and nights, 
miles and miles from home, without satisfying 
his desires. He traveled through the woods 
smelling for deer-mice and red squirrels (who 
often saw him and scolded him angrily from their 
safe perches in the trees), and sneaking around 
rocks, from the north side, to pounce by chance 
on some partridge that might be huddled under 
the warm southern face. In the woods, at night, 
or in the dusk of late afternoon, he heard the 
mournful hoot of the big horned owl, and kept his 
path so far as he could under the protection of 
laurel leaves or ferns or rocks, with his eyes ever 
watchful for the deadly, flitting shadow above, 
