52 JVays of Wood Folk. 



in the very midst of some quiet fun, when they leaped 

 aside suddenly and disappeared among the ferns as if 

 by magic. The next instant a dark shadow swept 

 across the opening, almost into my face, and wheeled 

 out of sight among the evergreens. It was Kookoo- 

 skoos, the big brown owl, coursing the woods on his 

 nightly hunt after the very rabbits that were crouched 

 motionless beneath him as he passed. But how did 

 they learn, all at once, of the coming of an enemy 

 whose march is noiseless as the sweep of a shadow.? 

 And did they all hide so well that he never suspected 

 that they were about, or did he see the ferns wave 

 as the last one disappeared, but was afraid to come 

 back after seeing me } Perhaps Br'er Rabbit was 

 well repaid that time for his confidence. 



They soon came back again, as I think they would 

 not have done had it been a natural opening. Had 

 it been one of Nature's own sunny spots, the owl 

 would have swept back and forth across it ; for he 

 knows the rabbits' ways as well as they know his. 

 But hawks and owls avoid a spot like this, that men 

 have cleared. If they cross it once in search of prey, 

 they seldom return. Wherever man camps, he leaves 

 something of himself behind ; and the fierce birds 

 and beasts of the woods fear it, and shun it. It 

 is only the innocent things, singing birds, and fun- 

 loving rabbits, and harmless little wood-mice — shy, 



