The spread of the wings of the first of these monster owls that they saw was quite six feet from tip to tip, and it almost scared Dot Kenway. With an eerie “Hoo! Hoo! Hoo-oo!” and a swish of wings it crossed the road just ahead of the horses, and made even those plodding beasts toss their heads and prick up their ears.
“Oh, look at that ’normous great white chicken!” shouted Dot. “Did you ever?”
“It is an owl, child,” said Tess.
“An owl as big as that?” gasped the smaller girl. “Why—why—it could carry you right off like the eagle that Mr. Lycurgus Billet set his Sue for bait! Don’t you ’member?”
“I guess I do remember!” Tess declared. “But an owl isn’t like an eagle. It isn’t so savage.”
The party had come a long way, and the steaming horses were now weary. As evening approached the cold increased in intensity, while the mournfully sounding wind promised stern weather. The members of the party from Milton began to congratulate each other that they were arriving at the Lodge before a big storm should sweep over this northern country.
“And suppose we get snowed in and aren’t able to get out of the woods till spring?” suggested Cecile, not without some small fear that such might be a possibility.
“There goes little Miss Fidget!” cried her brother. “Always worrying over the worst that may happen.”
“But I suppose we could be snowbound up here?” suggested Ruth, although scarcely with anxiety.
“Yes!” agreed Luke, laughing. “And pigs might fly. But they tell me they are awful uncertain birds.”