But their mother, who was not so conservative, chuckled her approval and flew off to hunt young mice for them.

Thus encouraged, they ignored their father's prudent counsels, and hopped out, with elated squawks, upon the branch.

Whereupon the father, somewhat huffed, flew up to the very topmost branch of the tree and perched there, swaying in the breeze, and trying to forget his family cares.

From this high post of observation he presently caught sight of an eagle, winging his way up from the swamp at the lower end of the valley.

With a sharp signal cry for volunteers, he dashed off in pursuit.