the way he disappeared, lipperty-lipperty-lip, was worth seeing.
Whitey the Snowy Owl had saved him from Shadow the Weasel and didn't
know it. An enemy had proved to be a friend.



CHAPTER XIII: Whitefoot Decides Quickly

Your mind made up a certain way
Be swift to act; do not delay.
- Whitefoot.

When Whitefoot had discovered Whitey the Snowy Owl, he had dodged
down in the little hole in the snow beside which he had been sitting.
He had not been badly frightened. But he was somewhat upset.
Yes, sir, he was somewhat upset. You see, he had so many enemies
to watch out for, and here was another.

"Just as if I didn't have troubles enough without having this white
robber to add to them," grumbled Whitefoot. "Why doesn't he stay
where he belongs, way up in the Far North? It must be that food is
scarce up there. Well, now that I know he is here, he will have to
be smarter than I think he is to catch me. I hope Jumper the Hare
will have sense enough to keep perfectly still. I've sometimes
envied him his long legs, but I guess I am better off than he is, at
that. Once he has been seen by an enemy, only those long legs of his
can save him, but I have a hundred hiding-places down under the snow.
Whitey is watching the hole where I disappeared; he thinks
I'll come out there again after a while. I'll fool him."