All of a sudden, as Racky was swaying to and fro, his arms held stiffly to his sides, he heard a voice calling:
"Who? Who? Who?"
"Oh, dear! That is some one after me!" thought the rocker. "Maybe it is Grandma, or one of the children, or the policeman whom Thump saw coming. Or perhaps it is Thump himself! I hope it is!" Then Racky called: "Hello! Hello! Who are you?"
Down through the trees came the call again:
"Who? Who? Who?"
"What do you mean?" asked Racky. "Why do you ask who I am, when you will not tell me who are you? Who are you?"
"I am the owl bird," was the answer. "I was not asking who you were. I was just giving my night call of 'Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!' That was to let my little owls in the nest know I am coming to them, soon, with something to eat. Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!"
And away flew the owl bird on his big wings, while Racky, glad to know he was not being chased by a policeman, traveled on. All through the night the chair rocked away, getting farther and farther from the Happy Home.
At first it was bright moonlight in the woods, and, though it was cold, Racky rather liked it. But soon the moon hid behind the clouds. Then it began to rain and grew very dark.
"If this is an adventure, I do not like it at all!" sighed the runaway rocker. "I am going to get all wet and my legs and arms and joints will creak and squeak worse than ever. I wish I could find a house in which to stay."