The squirrel had been upon his guard; and, as the hawk swooped down, had doubled around the tree with the quickness of a flash of lightning.

By the guidance of his rudder-like tail the hawk soon turned, and flew round to that side of the tree on which the squirrel had now settled.

A few strokes of his powerful wings soon enabled him to reach the proper elevation; and again he swooped downward at his intended victim.

The squirrel avoided him as before, and came back on the other side of the trunk.

Again the hawk doubled, rose, darted downward at his prey, missed it, and swept on.