He was at a loss to account for Owl’s sleek condition. One day, however, he overheard one of his neighbors say that he had seen Owl fly out of his house late on the evening before.
Sparrow Hawk was more angry than ever. He saw that Owl had outwitted him. He resolved to be revenged, yet he knew that he could not stay awake all night to get possession of Owl’s house. Instead, he made up a lot of scandalous stories about Owl, and even went so far as to say that he ate other birds. At first Birdland would not believe these stories about Owl, but, when finally they learned his queer habits, they began to think that they must be true. So it happened that Owl became confirmed in his night-going habits.
One time he stayed out later than usual, and it was daybreak when he got near home. Instead of going in immediately, he remained in a nearby pine tree. It was so much more pleasant outside than in the house. His eyes had been troubling him of late, so he closed them. Then, before he knew it, Owl fell asleep. Very soon the sun rose and all Birdland was in a great bustle. Suddenly Chick-a-dee, who was searching for his breakfast, gave a startled little shriek. Who was that in the pine tree? It must be Owl. Blue Jay, too, was excited when Chick-a-dee, breathless and with feathers in disorder, hurried to him with the news. And so it spread. Everybody was indignant, for they remembered the stories told by Sparrow Hawk. Owl, they thought, should be put out of the way. This they whispered excitedly to each other as they surrounded the tree. Flicker was the only one who had heard the news and would not join the gathering. He sat on his doorstep watching them as they silently approached Owl, and he trembled, for it would be a very easy matter to kill poor Owl while he was asleep.
Sparrow Hawk was exultant. Now at last he would be revenged. Everybody believed Owl to be a villain and wished to kill him.
But to tell the truth, the birds were afraid of Owl. Even Sparrow Hawk hesitated about attacking him. Finally, it was planned that every one should fly at him at once while he slept, unconscious of his danger. As Flicker understood their plan, he became alarmed almost to distraction, and then, as if on a sudden thought, his anxious voice rang out, “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!”
For a moment the birds were speechless. Then, “Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!” cried Sparrow Hawk, and at that instant they all flew at him. Owl’s big eyes popped open and his feathers stood on end. So large did he appear and so terrible did the snap of his bill seem that, for the minute, his enemies stopped half way in their flight, and then, before they could collect their scattered wits, Owl darted noiselessly into his house.
It is very easy for us to understand now how all the scandals about Owl were started and why he lives such a hermit’s life. We know, too, why Flicker and Sparrow Hawk cannot get along together since the former saved Owl’s life. To tell the truth, Flicker is not a bit afraid of Sparrow Hawk, but when he sees him coming, hides behind a tree and calls, “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!” just to anger him. Sparrow Hawk knows well that he would have little chance of catching Flicker, who can dodge around the tree as nimbly as any squirrel, so his only retort is to call out to an imaginary ally, “Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!”
LITTLE POLLY PRENTISS
BY ELIZABETH LINCOLN GOULD