the screech owl heard him and flew at once to a branch beside the nest hollow. he was a jolly little fellow in spite of his doleful call, and before he could talk at all he had to bend his body, look behind him, nod his head, and shake himself, as screech owls always do when they alight. then he looked into the tree and saw his big cousin, the great horned owl, the night king of the forest, sitting on the eggs and looking very, very grumpy. how he did laugh! "what is the matter?" said he. "didn't you like your wife's way of brooding over the eggs? or did she get tired of staying at home and make you help tend the nest?"