The thick feathers of the owl will glance a charge of shot that would blow a squirrel to pieces." Archie made no reply, but crawled up behind a thick cluster of currant-bushes that grew close by the fence, and, thrusting his gun between the branches, was settling himself into a comfortable position, when the owl suddenly leaped from his perch, and flew off toward the woods, as Frank had said he would, "like a streak of lightning," followed by the whole flock of his tormentors, which screamed with all their might.
"Now's our time," said Frank.

"Come on!" And, clearing the fence at a bound, he started across the meadow at the top of his speed.

Archie followed close at his heels, and a few minutes run brought them to the edge of the woods.
"Now the hunt begins in earnest," said Frank, "We must separate; we shall make too much noise if we go together." "Where's the owl ?" inquired Archie.
"As near as I can guess, he must be in that tall hemlock," answered Frank, pointing through the woods toward the tree in question.
Archie immediately moved cautiously off in the direction indicated, leaving his cousin to take care if himself.
Guided by the noise made by the crows, he soon discovered the owl, not where Frank had supposed him to be, but on a tree that stood to the right, and several rods further off.

Placing a large tree between himself and the game, he threw himself on his hands and knees, and crawled along as silently as possible, taking good care to keep out of sight of the crows.
He had arrived almost within range of the owl, when he found before him a spot of considerable extent, which was entirely destitute of bushes or large trees, and covered only with saplings, which grew so thinly that he would certainly be discovered if he attempted to pass through them.

This brought him to a stand-still.