"'Take me on your back, and we will fly after him.'
"'Come, then, and do battle for me, noble friend.'
"Down flew the owl, and up jumped Arthur quickly on its back, inwardly wondering how a frog could be a match for a night-hawk, but quite resolved to aid the poor owl if he could. With a delightful sense of freedom and glorious liberty, such as he had never before even imagined, they rose high above the tree-tops.
"The moon had now risen, and the air seemed transparent silver.
"Keeping near the border of the river, which
had greatly widened, they emerged from one forest only to enter another.
"The wild cries of loons saluted them; herds of deer, cooling themselves in the water, glanced up with startled gaze as they passed.
"A dark bird flapped low over the water as a fish leaped from the waves.
"'It is my enemy,' whispered the owl.
"'Pursue him,' returned Arthur.