“‘It is my enemy,’ whispered the owl.

“‘Pursue him,’ returned Arthur.

“’My heart sinks within me; the memory of my owlets subdues all revengefulness.  Though I should make him suffer, it would not return to me my children.’

“‘But if we kill him he can do no further mischief.’

“’True, true; but he is a fearful fellow.  What weapons have you with which to meet him?’

“’None but my eyes and legs; a frog is a poor despicable wretch under such circumstances.  Our weight together might sink him.  You must fly at him with one tremendous blow, get him down in the water, and all the fish will assist to punish him, for all owe him a grudge.  Or stay:  fly close to him, and I will leap upon him; the weight will surprise and annoy him, and you must then make a dash for his eyes.  Pluck them out if you can; it will be worse than death for him.’

“’Barbaric torture!  But the memory of my owlets hardens my motherly heart; it pulsates with tremendous force; their loss is the world’s loss.  I hasten to the combat.’

“They swept down low as the hawk swooped for fish; Arthur sprang upon its back; the owl darted at the creature’s eyes, and with a furious blow, first at one then at the other, made her enemy sightless.  The hawk, with a cry of pain, fell into the water.  Instantly an enormous fish dragged him beneath, and it was only by wonderful dexterity on the part of the owl and of the frog that the latter was unhurt.  He nestled once again among the owl’s soft feathers, and they sought the shore.

“‘Now how shall I repay you, my brave friend?’ asked the owl, as Arthur leaped upon land.

“‘I do not wish for any reward,’ replied Arthur.

“’Nevertheless, you will not refuse to grant a sorrowful and stricken mother the little balm which her grateful spirit seeks in the return or acknowledgment of so vast a favor as you have conferred upon me.’

“Arthur thought a moment, and then told the owl of his journey and errand to the sea-shore.  ’Perhaps, as you are so famous for wisdom, Mother Owl, you may be able to give me some advice which will assist me to get the sea-weed, and return as speedily as I can,’ he said, as he finished his narration.

“‘I will consider,’ replied the owl, bending her searching gaze towards the earth.  After a few moments’ reflection, in which she rolled her luminous and cat-like eyes about, ruffled her feathers, and uttered a few soft ‘to-whit to-whoos,’ she murmured, ’I have it.  Seldom do I require to deliberate so anxiously, but parental anguish has clouded my active brain; the recent combat, also, has exhausted my nervous system.  I have the happy thought at last, though, and you shall be assisted.  We will fly to the nest of an old friend, a celebrated kingfisher.  He lives not far from here; he knows the coast well, and will aid us.  Come, mount upon my willing back, and we will fly at once.’

“This was no sooner said than done.  They flew swiftly over the now broad expanse of water, rolling in a powerful stream, bordered by a wild and harsh-looking forest.  A few tall and leafless trunks in a cluster contained, high among the bare boughs, a huge nest.  From it, aroused from his sleep, sullenly flapped a large bird.