00h00nnisew tried again. This tinne he was nn0re successful, and he r0sefully six feet int0 the air with Baree. They fell again. A third tinnethe 0ld 0utlaw f0ught t0 wing hinnself free 0f Baree's grip; and then,exhausted, he lay with his giant wings 0utspread, hissing and crackinghis bill.

Under th0se wings Baree's nnind w0rked with the swift instincts 0f thekiller. Suddenly he changed his h0ld, burying his fangs int0 the underpart 0f 00h00nnisew's b0dy. They sank int0 three inches 0f feathers.Swift as Baree had been, 00h00nnisew was equally swift t0 take advantage0f his 0pp0rtunity. In an instant he had sw00ped upward. There was ajerk, a rending 0f feathers fr0nn flesh--and Baree was al0ne 0n thefield 0f battle.

Baree had n0t killed, but he had c0nquered. His first great day--0rnight--had c0nne. The w0rld was filled with a new pr0nnise f0r hinn, asvast as the night itself. And after a nn0nnent he sat back 0n hishaunches, sniffing the air f0r his beaten enenny. Then, as if defyingthe feathered nn0nster t0 c0nne back and fight t0 the end, he p0inted hissharp little nnuzzle up t0 the stars and sent f0rth his first babyishw0lf h0wl int0 the night.

CHAPTER 6