How magnificent! Perri was wild with joy. But she still had caution enough to avoid the tip of the branch. Where it grew thin she turned back. She did not venture out so far that the branch shook under her slight weight.

A flapping of wings alarmed her.

With flying tail Perri shot toward the trunk, leaned against it, raised her tail high, sat upright. She showed her white breast, and her eyes sparkled.

The magpie moved cautiously into view. “Is it you, Perri?” she chattered.

Perri stared at her, and said nothing.

“Don’t be afraid,” said the magpie, “I won’t do anything to you.”

“I’m not afraid,” Perri whispered, trembling with fear, but also with fight. Still, she preferred not to fight.

The magpie flattered: “You’re too big and strong for me.”

“I’m very strong,” said Perri. She tried to put a threat into this answer, but she had not the courage. Only her raised paws had an attitude of menacing defense. She breathed heavily, and her heart pounded wildly.

Trying to calm herself, she went on, “Soon I’ll be even bigger and even stronger.”

“I hope so,” the magpie agreed good-naturedly. “If nobody catches you.”

Perri started: “Who’s to catch me?”

They sat face-to-face.

After looking at the baby squirrel, the magpie thoughtfully turned her head. “For the present, as long as you’re small, look out for the crow.”

“I’m looking out, all right,” sighed Perri, hiding her pretty face; then she burst out, “Why must I always be looking out?”

“To keep alive.” The magpie’s tone was serious.

Perri sounded despairing, almost in tears, as she said, “It’s wretched to be always looking out! I can’t stand it!”

“Oh, you get used to it,” said the magpie. “You soon get used to a little caution, and you can still be jolly, even happy.”

Half in doubt, half hopefully, Perri eyed the magpie. At last she said, “It’s easy for you; you’re not in any danger.”

The magpie gave a chattering laugh. “What a child you are! You don’t know the world. I’m in no danger? My little one, my life is just as hard or just as easy as yours. We all have to look out, all of us! Even if you’re a falcon, a sparrow hawk or a buzzard. Even a great gentleman like the marten or a murderer like the fox!”

“Who’s the marten? Who’s the fox?” asked Perri.

“You’ll find out soon enough. They have enormous strength. But He is more powerful than any of them.”

“And who’s He?”

“Well, just He. I’ve seen him. He walks upright on two legs, and He has no wings. But his hand, the thin extra one, reaches farther and faster than the fastest bird. More than that I don’t know. He’s mysterious. A thunderclap, and the marten falls dead from the tree. A thunderclap, and the fox lies dying in his blood.”

“Horrible.” Perri was trembling again. “Then it does no good to look out . . .”

“Why, child, it’s just on his account that you can rest easy. He never hurts us little folk. On the contrary, He often frees us of our worst enemies.”

Perri sat upright.