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Show 114 <<- Several large rabbits poked their heads out of the burrow. More and more scurried out into the dusk. Soon rabbits hopped everywhere. They seemed to cover the ground. Both boys raised their weapons. Toho brought his down straight and true. A rabbit fell motionless to the ground. Chua/^raised his stick and brought it down with great force, but it hit the ground as the rabbit scurried away. He stepped backwards and his foot caught a rabbit below the ears. He turned and struck. The second rabbit fell quiet also. Toho was better at this than he was, but with practice his stick would become true. Chua spread the net on the ground and laid two large rocks on the comers of the net. He placed the biggest rabbit in the upper end of the net near the rocks. He gave the c eagle the largest rabbit, for he needed the best. Chua set the second rabbit under the shelter of a pine tree. After they captured the eagle, they would build a fire and eat also. Toho settled himself behind an outcropping of red rocks, holding one end of the net. Then Chua found cover behind a large boulder and gripped the other side. If the eagle returned, as he had the night before, the boys must be ready to throw the lower ends of the net over him before he could fly away. Chua prayed that the eagle would know of their need. The sun settled from sight over the red cliffs. The eagle, Quahu, had returned. He circled above them. Golden brown feathers gleamed in the twilight. Chua's heart beat faster. Would they be able to capture the eagle? Chua's moist hands squeezed the net. He crouched, ready to spring if the eagle came to them. The giant bird dove for the rabbit. Be ready, Toho, thought Chua as he crouched, waiting to spring with his end of the net. |