n four pairs of stiff and swollen legs to greet a new
day in the deep and mysterious forest into which the accident of the
previous day had thrown them. The spirit of irrepressible youth was
upon them, and, though Miki was so swollen from the stings of the wasps
that his lank body and overgrown legs were more grotesque than ever, he
was in no way daunted from the quest of further adventure.

The pup's face was as round as a moon, and his head was puffed up until
Neewa might reasonably have had a suspicion that it was on the point of
exploding. But Miki's eyes--as much as could be seen of them--were as
bright as ever, and his one good ear and his one half ear stood up
hopefully as he waited for the cub to give some sign of what they were
going to do. The poison in his system no longer gave him discomfort. He
felt several sizes too large--but, otherwise, quite well.

Neewa, because of his fat, exhibited fewer effects of his battle with
the wasps. His one outstanding defect was an entirely closed eye. With
the other, wide open and alert, he looked about him. In spite of his
one bad eye and his stiff legs he was inspired with the optimism of one
who at last sees fortune turning his way. He was rid of the man-beast,
who had killed his mother; the forests were before him again, open and
inviting, and the rope with which Challoner had tied him and Miki
together he had successfully gnawed in two during the night. Having
dispossessed himself of at least two evils it would not have surprised
him much if he had seen Noozak, his mother, coming up from out of the
shadows of the trees. Thought of her made him whine. And Miki, facing
the vast loneliness of his new world, and thinking of his master,
whined in reply.

Both were hungry. The amazing swiftness with which their misfortunes
had descended upon them had given them no time in which to eat. To Miki
the change was more than astonishing; it was overwhelming, and he held
his breath in anticipation of some new evil while Neewa scanned the
forest about them.

As if assured by this survey that everything was right, Neewa turned
his back to the sun, which had been his mother's custom, and set out.

Miki followed. Not until then did he discover that every joint in his
body had apparently disappeared. His neck was stiff, his legs were like
stilts, and five times in as many minutes he stubbed his clumsy toes
and fell down in his efforts to keep up with the cub. On top of this
his eye