is deer meat, and occasionally he would crack some of the early
nuts that had ripened and fallen. The need for food would not be strong
enough for some days yet to make him fire upon any of his new comrades,
the wild animals.

But it is true that Henry still remained a creature of that primitive
golden age. Never were his senses more acute. The lost faculties of man
when he lived wholly in the woodland came back to him. He detected the
presence of the hidden deer in the thickets, and he knew that the
buffaloes were on the little prairies long before he came to them. He
might have shot any number of the big beasts with ease, but he passed
them by as he continued his steady flight into the north.

He had not seen any sign of his pursuers in two days, and now he stopped
for them to come up, meanwhile eating plentifully in a berry patch. The
berries were rich and large, and he took his time and ease, enjoying his
stay there all the more because of his new comrades. Two black bears
preyed upon the farther edge of the patch, and he laughed at them when
their noses were covered with crimson stains. They seemed to be
friendly, but he did not put the tie of friendship to too severe a test
by approaching closely. Instead, he watched them from a little distance,
when, after having eaten enormously, they played with each other like
two boys, pushing and pulling, their reddened noses giving them the look
of the comedians they were.

A stag watched the sportive bears from a little distance, standing body
deep among the bushes, and regarding them with gravity. It pleased Henry
to see a twinkle of amusement in the great eyes of the deer, which kept
his ground unafraid, despite the presence of his usual enemy, man.

The bears, which were young, and hence festive, continued their sport,
encouraged, perhaps, by a gathering and appreciative audience. A wildcat
ran out on a long bough, looked at them and yowled twice. As they paid
no attention to him, he concluded that it was best to be in a good humor
after all, as obviously nobody meant him any harm. So he lay on the
bough and watched the game. His eyes showed green and yellow in the
sunlight, but it pleased Henry to think that they also held a look of
laughter.

Three gray squirrels rattled the bark of an oak that overhung the berry
patch. Then came a fox squirrel, with his more glowing color and big
bushy tail, and all four looked at the bears. Sometimes they seemed
glued to the ba