"Ay, but I think it is safer to see than to be seen," said Silvy, "for
hawks and eagles have strong beaks, and racoons sharp claws and
hungry-looking teeth; and it is not very pleasant, Nimble, to be obliged to
look out for such wicked creatures."

"Oh, true indeed," said Nimble; "if it had not been for that famous jump
you made, Silvy, and, Velvet, your two admirers, the hawk and racoon,
would soon have hid all your beauties from the world, and put a stop to
your travels."

"It is very well for brother Nimble to make light of our dangers,"
whispered Velvet-paw, "but let us see how he will jump if a big eagle were
to pounce down to carry him off."

"Yes, yes," said Silvy; "it is easy to brag before one is in danger."

The squirrels thought they would now go and look for some
partridge-berries, of which they were very fond, for the pine-kernels were
but dry husky food after all.

There were plenty of the pretty white star-shaped blossoms, growing all
over the ground under the pine-trees, but the bright scarlet twin-berries
were not yet ripe. In winter the partridges eat this fruit from under the
snow; and it furnishes food for many little animals as well as birds. The
leaves are small, of a dark green, and the white flowers have a very fine
fragrant scent. Though the runaways found none of these berries fit to
eat, they saw some ripe strawberries among the bushes; and, having
satisfied their hunger, began to grow very merry, and whisked here and
there and everywhere, peeping into this hole and under that stone.