Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-06
CHAPTER v.
Threats OF Danger.

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lodging back and forth to es-
cape the slashing attacks of the
Hawk, who was Blue Jay, made into
a bird of prey by the mysterious ef-
fects of the Imagination Stone.
And above the Hawk circled the
ferocious Eagle, who was Judge
Owl transformed. The Hawk was
so intent upon making a meal of
the Raven that he was not paying
much attention to the Eagle, but
Peggy and Billy, frisking about on
the topmost branch of the tree,
could see that the Eagle was getting
ready to swoop down and take
vigorous part in the fray.
"Oh, Blue Jay will tear Reddy
Woodpecker to pieces! l wish l
could change them back" squeaked
Peggy in her squirrel voice.
And Judge Owl is going to claw
Blue Jay to bits" squeaked Billy.
I'VE must get the Imagination
Stone back and transform them into
their real selves" squeaked Peggy,
quivering with fear for her feathered
friends, whose natures had been so
dangerously changed by her prank.
Woe, woe, woe" croaked the
Raven, dropping utterly exhausted
among the branches of the oak tree.
Right after him, just ready to grab
him, was the Hawk. And right after
the Hawk, swooping down. was the
Eagle. But just as the Hawk SEEM
ed about to sink his claws into the
tired Raven, he stopped himself.
And just as the Eagle started to
clutch the Hawk he halted. The
birds of prey had suddenly seen
more tempting dinners-two soft,
plump squirrels. With harsh hunt
ing screams, they launched them
selves straight at Peggy and Billy.
Peggy gave a quick, mad leap,
leaving tuft of fur in the Hawks
talons. Billy followed, but with
part of his tail torn off by the grasp
of the Eagle. From branch to
branch and limb to limb Peggy and
Billy fairly few, instinctively saving
themselves from long falls, but
never stopping to gain a firm foot
hold.
Away down below was a squirrel
house, which Peggy had put up in
the tree for Perky and Jerky. but
which they had never used because
they preferred their nest of leaves
high up in the branches. 1t was for
this house that Peggy and Billy now
scampered, rushing into it and cow
ering as far away from the opening
as possible.
The Hawk and the Eagle could
not follow them there and they
could hear the disappointed birds
giving hungry screams far above.
The Raven had taken advantage of
the change in the chase to flop down
into a hiding place under the caves
of the porch.
"I'r going to bag that Eagle and
Hawk" he shouted. AT first this
made Peggy feel safer. Then she
grew quickly frightened, for she
remembered that the Eagle was
really her friend Judge Owl and the
Hawk was Blue Jay. She didn't
want either one shot.
Woe! Woe! l told you that I'M
agination Stone would bring dire
Woe" 1t was the Raven croaking
under the porch caves.
Another man came running wear
lily along the sidewalk. 1t was
Tony, the monkey, turned into an
organ-grinder. He was still clasp
ing Sylvester, the man turned into
a monkey, but he was almost dead
from fatigue. As Peggy and Billy
looked at him. he turned to a tele-
phone pole and climbed up it part
way, but he was so tired he threat
ened to fall back at any minute.
There was sound of sobbing,
too, and down the street searching
everywhere came a little girl. 1t
was the policeman's daughter.
Papa, papa" she was calling.
Can anyone tell me where my papa
is? He's lost and maybe we'll never
see him again."
Peggy looked at Billy and he
looked at her. The same thought
came to both of them. Supposing
they couldn't ever recover the I'M
agination Stone and turn the Bull
dog back into the policeman!
Even as they thought this, the
Bulldog came painting along on the
trail of Tony. He was tired and