“Whoo, hoo-hoo-hoo, whoo, whoo!”
Billy Woodchuck was sure that the Great Horned Owl had found him at last. He ran a little way as fast as he could; and then he crouched down in the grass.
Again came that deep, long-drawn call. It sent Billy off on another short run.
And after that had happened three times, he was so scared that he thrust his head under a heap of dried leaves. So long as he couldn’t see the Great Horned Owl, he thought that the Great Horned Owl couldn’t see him.
Then Billy heard his mother’s voice. She was calling him. And he looked up quickly. There she was, right beside him!
“Did you drive him away, Mother?” he asked.
“Whom do you mean?” she inquired.
“Why, the Great Horned Owl!” Billy said.
“I was the only one that called,” she told him. “I wanted to see what you would do. And I must say, you behaved very foolishly. Don’t ever cover up your head like that. First, you must try to get away. And if you should get caught, remember that your teeth are sharp. But they won’t be of any use to you with your head buried under a pile of leaves.”
Billy Woodchuck saw that he had a great deal to learn. But he was glad that his mother had taught him that much, though he was ashamed that he had been so silly.