"Ah! well, it is of no use grumbling now; if we were to go back, we
should only get a scolding, and perhaps be chased off the island," said
Nimble. "Now let us have a race, and see which of us will get to shore
first;" and he leaped over Velvet-paw's head, and was soon swimming
merrily for the shore. He was soon followed by his companions, and in half
an hour they were all safely landed. Instead of going into the thick
forest, they agreed to take the path by the margin of the lake, for there
they had a better chance of getting nuts and fruit; but though it was the
merry month of June, and there were plenty of pretty flowers in bloom, the
berries were hardly ripe, and our little vagrants fared but badly. Besides
being hungry, they were sadly afraid of the eagles and fish-hawks that
kept hovering over the water; and when they went further into the forest
to avoid them, they saw a great white wood-owl, noiselessly flying out
from among the close cedar swamps, that seemed just ready to pounce down
upon them. The grey squirrels did not like the look of the owl's great
round shining eyes, as they peered at them, under the tufts of silky white
feathers, which almost hid his hooked bill; and their hearts sunk within
them, when they heard his hollow cry, "_Ho, ho, ho, ho!" "Waugh,
ho!"_ dismally sounding in their ears.

It was well that Velvet-paw was as swift afoot as she was soft, for one
of these great owls had very nearly caught her, while she was eating a
filbert that she had found in a cleft branch, where a nuthatch had fixed
it, while she pecked a hole in the shell. Some bird of prey had scared
away the poor nuthatch, and Velvet-paw no doubt thought she was in luck
when she found the prize; but it would have been a dear nut to her, if
Nimble, who was a sharp-sighted fellow, had not seen the owl, and cried
_"Chit, chit, chit, chit!"_ to warn her of her danger. _"Chit,
chit, chit, chit!"_ cried Velvet-paw, and away she flew to the very top
of a tall pine-tree, springing from one tree-top to another, till she was