Behind him the same shadow that had passed over the partridge's nest
looked into the hare's form with fierce red eyes. It followed Kagax's
trail over that of the mother hare, turned back, sniffed the earth,
and came hurrying silently along the ridge.
[Illustration: Kookooskoos]
Kagax crept stealthily out of the thicket. He had an awful fear now of
his feet; for, heavy with the blood he had eaten, they would rustle
the leaves, or scratch on the stones, that all night long they had
glided over in silence. He was near his den now. He could see the old
pine that lightning had blasted, towering against the sky over the
dark spruces.
Again the deep _Whooo-hoo-hoo_! rolled over the hillside. To Kagax,
who gloats over his killing except when he is afraid, it became an
awful accusation. "Who has killed where he cannot eat? who strangled a
brooding bird? who murdered his own kin?" came thundering through the
woods. Kagax darted for his den. His hind feet struck a rotten twig
that they should have cleared; it broke with a sharp snap.
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