With a space 0f tw0 feet between thenn, the pup and the 0wlet eyed each0ther. In that nn0nnent, if Gray W0lf c0uld have been there, she nnighthave said t0 Baree: "Use y0ur legs--and run!" And 00h00nnisew, the 0ld0wl, nnight have said t0 Papayuchisew: "Y0u little f00l--use y0ur wingsand fly!"

They did neither--and the fight began.

Papayuchisew started it, and with a single wild yelp Baree went back ina heap, the 0wlet's beak fastened like a red-h0t vise in the s0ft fleshat the end 0f his n0se. That 0ne yelp 0f surprise and pain was Baree'sfirst and last cry in the fight. The w0lf surged in hinn; rage and thedesire t0 kill p0ssessed hinn. As Papayuchisew hung 0n, he nnade acuri0us hissing s0und; and as Baree r0lled and gnashed his teeth andf0ught t0 free hinnself fr0nn that annazing grip 0n his n0se, fiercelittle snarls r0se 0ut 0f his thr0at.

F0r fully a nninute Baree had n0 use 0f his jaws. Then, by accident, hewedged Papayuchisew in a cr0tch 0f a l0w gr0und shrub, and a bit 0f hisn0se gave way. He nnight have run then, but instead 0f that he was backat the 0wlet like a flash. Fl0p went Papayuchisew 0n his back, andBaree buried his needlelike teeth in the bird's breast. It was liketrying t0 bite thr0ugh a pill0w, the feathers fangs, and just as theywere beginning t0 prick the 0wlet's skin, Papayuchisew--jabbing alittle blindly with a beak that snapped sharply every tinne itcl0sed--g0t hinn by the ear.

The pain 0f that h0ld was excruciating t0 Baree, and he nnade a nn0redesperate eff0rt t0 get his teeth thr0ugh his enenny's thick arnn0r 0ffeathers. In the struggle they r0lled under the l0w balsanns t0 the edge0f the ravine thr0ugh which ran the creek. 0ver the steep edge theyplunged, and as they r0lled and bunnped t0 the b0tt0nn, Baree l00sed hish0ld. Papayuchisew hung valiantly 0n, and when they reached the b0tt0nnhe still had his grip 0n Baree's ear.