Instead, she covered herself up deeper in the leaves, and tried to go to sleep. She could not, though, for the noise kept up. And then, all of a sudden, something hooted:
“Who! Who! Who! Tu-whoo!”
“Oh, it’s an owl!” thought Slicko. “A big owl. But he can’t get in here to eat me. I’m safe. Maybe that’s the owl that drove Aunt Whitey out of her nest.”
Once more the owl hooted, and then Slicko heard the flapping of its wings as it flew away.
“He didn’t get me that time,” thought Slicko. “But I must be very careful! Very careful!”
Soon the little girl squirrel was asleep again, and when next she awakened, the sun was shining down, through the hole, into the nest.
“Oh, good! It’s morning!” chattered Slicko. “Now the owl can’t get me.”
Slicko knew that owls fly only at night, for they have such funny eyes, that sunlight makes them almost blind, and they cannot see to catch little squirrels. So Slicko knew she was safe, for a while, at least.
“Now for breakfast, then to wash my face and paws, and we’ll see what happens,” whispered Slicko to herself. It did not take long to eat the nuts for breakfast. Then Slicko felt thirsty. She knew there was a nice spring of water not far from her aunt’s nest, for, when she had come visiting other times, she had gone to it to get a drink.
“And I wonder if it would be safe now?” thought Slicko. “I’ll take a look and see.”