Two gigantic owls were tearing at the carcass.

To Miki and Neewa these were the monsters of the black forest out of which they had escaped so narrowly with their lives.

But as a matter of fact they were not of Oohoomisew's breed of night-seeing pirates.

They were Snowy Owls, unlike all others of their kind in that their vision was as keen as a hawk's in the light of broad day.

Mispoon, the big male, was immaculately white.