"We couldn't get down without being seen even then," reasoned Hortense. "There's a chance," said Andy. "Anyway, they might not see us and just decide we had already escaped. It's worth trying." "Very carefully they searched the trunk of the tree, seeking something that would help them climb. "Here's something that looks like a crack in the trunk," said Andy. "If I could get a foothold in that, I believe I could climb to the top. Give me a hand here." Hortense did as she was bid, and Andy began to climb. "It gets easier," he said in a moment. "Can you find a foothold and follow me?" Try as she would, Hortense couldn't manage a start. "I'll come back," said Andy, descending until he could give Hortense a hand. With Andy's aid Hortense succeeded in climbing a few feet and after that was able to make her own way. Up and up they climbed, coming at last to the hole at the top which was just big enough to crawl through. Outside was a great limb, and on this they rested. "The Little People will hardly see us here, we're so high up," said Andy. "But we can't get down," said Hortense, "so it does us little good." Andy made no reply, for he was looking about him. "These trees grow very close together," said he. "I believe I'll see where this branch goes." Off he went, and Hortense waited. At last he came back, saying, "We can get to the next tree, and from that to another. When we are far enough away from the sentry, we'll try to climb down." With Andy leading the way, they went out to the end of the branch which just touched the branch of the next tree. Onto this they were able to climb, and they made their way slowly to the trunk; then out on a branch on the other side, and so to the next tree. In this way they progressed from tree to tree, but each was as big as the last and it was impossible for such little people as they to climb down. "We might eat a bite of cooky and grow big," said Hortense. "Then we couldn't get out of the tunnel," said Andy, "and we'd have to stay here forever." They seemed to be in a bad fix, indeed. "If we could only fly," said Hortense, "how nice it would be." "That's an idea," said Andy. Looking about him a moment, he began to climb to the branch above. "Come here," he called, and Hortense followed. At the base of the branch there was a hole in the tree, and, looking through this, they saw a snug nest lined with twigs and moss. "It's the nest of some big bird," said Andy. "We'll wait here and ask him to take us down." It seemed the only thing to do and, making themselves as comfortable as they could, they set themselves to wait. The blue moon rose higher and higher, and they became quite stiff. "It may be a last year's nest," said Hortense. "Or an owl's, and he won't come home until morning," said Andy. They had almost fallen asleep when something big and white sailed down and alighted on the branch--a great owl like the one on Grandmother's mantel, with fierce, bright eyes.