Evening star., 1938-02-22
Bedtime Stories
BY THORNTON w. BURGESS.
It may be brave to stand and fight,
But often more is gained by night.
-Blacky the Grow.

-Blacky the Grow.
RLACKY had looked straight into
the glaring yellow eyes of Mrs.
Hooty the Great Horned Owl and the
hunger and herceness he had seen
there had given him one of the worst
frights of his whole life. With
scream of sheer terror he had taken to
his wings. Now as he fled, beating his
wings frantically, he looked behind
him and his terror increased, If that
were possible. At first he thought
that the big, broad-winged pursuer
was Mrs Hooty, but a glance back
showed her still sitting on the edge
of the snoW-covered nest from which
she had arisen like an apparition al
most in his very face. Therefore 1t
must he Hooty himself who had taken
up the chase.
He must have been sitting near
and didn't see him. He must have
been in that big hemlock tree"
thought Blacky. and shuddered.
But now he had no time to think
Of what might have been. He was
flying for his life and he knew it.
There wasn't room in his head for
thought of anything but his present
difficulties. Hooty could fly faster
and turn more quickly than Blacky
had had any idea that he could He,
Blacky. was having to do his best
In speed and in twisting and dodging
to keep out of the clutches of those
great claws. 1t was useless to try to
fight. Blacky knew this. He had a
long, strong, sharp beak of his own.
but what good would that do him
once he was in the clutch of those
great claws Of Hooty's? None. Not
the least bit. II he would live, and
he certainly wanted to do that, it
would have to be through flight and
not through a fight.
After that first scream of fright
Blacky made no sound. He could
spare no breath for anything of that
kind. Had it been summer instead
Of winter he might have called tor
help from his relatives and friends.
They would have come to his rescue
gladly, for there is nothing that
Crows take greater delight in than
In "ganging up on a member Of the
Owl family, big or little. But Blacky
was the only member of his tribe
around now. Most of them had moved
South and the few who hadn't were
widely scattered. They had to be in
order TO get enough to eat. So calling
for help would be a waste OF breath,
bo hod MANA %o
On his part Hooty was as deter
mined to catch Blacky as Blacky was
determined not to be caught. Blacky
wouldn't have been Hootys first
choice for breakfast but there was
no choice. Blacky was the only break
fast in sight. Furthermore, Hooty
had grudge against Blacky for the
times that the latter and his friends
had made life miserable for him.
Blacky twisted and lodged around
through the trees, all stark and bare
save for the snow clinging to them.
Hooty followed without too much
trouble, despite the size of his great
wings. Blacky was heading for the
nearest evergreen tree, hemlocks and
spruces, with their wide-spreading,
broad, snow-covered branches. Once
he could plunge in among these he
would be reasonably safe. But, oh
now far away they seemed! He must
get there first. But could he? How
ne did wish that he had not turned
aside for look at that old nest of
his, but had gone straight on to the
place he had started for.
Had he had chance to think about
anything but escape Blacky might
have wondered where people ever got
the idea that Owls cannot see in the
daytime. Hooty's eyes were not both
erlng him the least little bit now. rs
Blacky fully realized.
BAcky was growing tired Would
ne be able to hold out to reach those
snowy evergreens? Perhaps Hooty
was just as tired, but Blacky couldn't
know that and just hoping that he
was didn't help. He was now where.
by sudden straight dash, be might
reach those evergreen trees in time.
If he didn't-well, it was unwise to
think about that He must reach
them, He would reach them. Blacky
drew a long breath and headed
straight for those trees. He couldn't
hear the wings of Hooty behind him
Tor those great wings are silent. but
he could feel the presence Of Hooty
right on his tail feathers, or so it
seemed anyway.
Headlong Blacky plunged under a
great overhanging bough. It was
reckless plunge. Dead twigs snapped
of and a few black feathers came
loose. But Blacky was safe. Hooty
had veered off and up in another
tree. where he was now angrily snap.
ping his bill