"Put them in the keyhole, quick!" said the owl, for the stake-driver was reviving.
"Where is the key-hole?"
"There! there!" cried the owl, pointing to the fire. By this time the Fly-up-the-creek had already begun to reach out for his clothes, which Bobby hastily threw into the fire. The fire went out, the great door near by swung open, and the big-eyed owl, followed by Bobby, walked out, saying, "I'm free at last."
Somehow, in the daylight, he was not any longer an owl, but an old man in gray clothes, who hobbled off down the road.
And Bobby looked after him until he saw the stake-driver, shorn of his fine clothes, sweep over his head and go flying up the creek again. Then he turned toward his father's cabin, saying:
"Well, I never! Ef that haint the beatinest thing I ever did see in all my born'd days."
And I think it was.
[ MR. BLAKE'S WALKING-STICK. ]
I.
THE WALKING-STICK WALKS.