the nature faker-第3章
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the moment no one seemed able to pucker his lips into a whistle；
and some even explained that with that famous waltz they were
unfamiliar。
One girl attained an instant popularity by pointing out that the
bears could waltz just as well on one side of the fence as the
other。 Kelly； cheated of his free performance； then begged that
before Herrick condemned the bears to starve on acorns； he should
give them a farewell drink； and Herrick； who was slightly
rattled；
replied excitedly that he had not ransomed the animals only to
degrade them。 The argument was interrupted by the French chef
falling out of a tree。 He had climbed it； he explained； in order
to
obtain a better view。
When； in turn； it was explained to him that a bear also could
climb
a tree； he remembered he had left his oven door open。 His
departure
reminded other servants of duties they had neglected； and one of
the guests； also； on remembering he had put in a long…distance
call； hastened to the house。 Jackson suggested that perhaps they
had better all return with him； as the presence of so many people
might frighten the bears。 At the moment he spoke； Ikey emitted a
hideous howl； whether of joy or rage no one knew； and few
remained
to find out。 It was not until Herrick had investigated and
reported
that Ikey was still behind the bars that the house party
cautiously
returned。 The house party then filed a vigorous protest。 Its
members； with Jackson as spokesman； complained that Herrick was
relying entirely too much on his supposition that the bears would
be anxious to enter the forest。 Jackson pointed out that； should
they not care to do so； there was nothing to prevent them from
doubling back under the wagon； in which case the house party and
all of the United States lay before them。 It was not until a
lawn…tennis net and much chicken wire was stretched in intricate
thicknesses across the lower half of the gate that Herrick was
allowed to proceed。 Unassisted； he slid back the cage door； and
without a moment's hesitation Ikey leaped from the wagon through
the gate and into the preserve。 For an instant； dazed by the
sudden
sunlight； he remained motionless； and then； after sniffing
delightedly at the air； stuck his nose deep into the autumn
leaves。
Turning on his back； he luxuriously and joyfully kicked his legs；
and rolled from side to side。
Herrick gave a shout of joy and triumph。 〃What did I tell you！〃
he
called。 〃See how he loves it！ See how happy he is。〃
〃Not at all；〃 protested Kelly。 〃He thought you gave him the sign
to
'roll over。' Tell him to 'play dead；' and he'll do that。〃 〃 Tell
ALL the bears to 'play dead；'〃 begged Jackson； 〃until I'm back in
the billiard…room。〃
Flushed with happiness； Herrick tossed Ikey's cage out of the
wagon； and opened the door of the one that held Bruno and Clara。
On
their part； there was a moment of doubt。 As though suspecting a
trap； they moved to the edge of the cage； and gazed critically at
the screen of trees and tangled vines that rose before them。
〃They think it's a new backdrop；〃 explained Kelly。
But the delight with which Ikey was enjoying his bath in the
autumn
leaves was not lost upon his parents。 Slowly and clumsily they
dropped to the ground。 As though they expected to be recalled；
each
turned to look at the group of people who had now run to peer
through the wire meshes of the fence。 But； as no one spoke and no
one signalled； the three bears； in single file； started toward
the
edge of the forest。 They had of cleared space to cover only a
little distance； and at each step； as though fearful they would
be
stopped and punished； one or the other turned his head。 But no
one
halted them。 With quickening footsteps the bears； now almost at a
gallop； plunged forward。 The next instant they were lost to
sight；
and only the crackling of the underbrush told that they had come
into their own。
Herrick dropped to the ground and locked himself inside the
preserve。
〃I'm going after them；〃 he called； 〃to see what they'll do。〃
There was a frantic chorus of entreaties。
〃Don't be an ass！〃 begged Jackson。 〃They'll eat you。〃 Herrick
waved
his hand reassuringly。
〃They won't even see me；〃 he explained。 〃I can find my way about
this place better than they can。 And I'll keep to windward of
them；
and watch them。 Go to the house；〃 he commanded。 〃I'll be with you
in an hour； and report。〃
It was with real relief that； on assembling for dinner； the house
party found Herrick； in high spirits； with the usual number of
limbs； and awaiting them。 The experiment had proved a great
success。 He told how； unheeded by the bears； he had； without
difficulty； followed in their tracks。 For an hour he had watched
them。 No happy school…children； let loose at recess； could have
embraced their freedom with more obvious delight。 They drank from
the running streams； for honey they explored the hollow
tree…trunks； they sharpened their claws on moss…grown rocks； and
among the fallen oak leaves scratched violently for acorns。 So
satisfied was Herrick with what he had seen； with the success of
his experiment； and so genuine and unselfish was he in the
thought
of the happiness he had brought to the beasts of the forests；
that
for him no dinner ever passed more pleasantly。 Miss Waring； who
sat
next to her host； thought she had seldom met a man with so kind
and
simple a nature。 She rather resented the fact； and she was
inwardly
indignant that so much right feeling and affection could be
wasted
on farmyard fowls； and four…footed animals。 She felt sure that
some
nice girl； seated at the other end of the table； smiling through
the light of the wax candles upon Herrick； would soon make him
forget his love of 〃Nature and Nature's children。〃 She even saw
herself there； and this may have made her exhibit more interest
in
Herrick's experiment than she really felt。 In any event； Herrick
found her most sympathetic' and when dinner was over carried her
off to a corner of the terrace。 It was a warm night in early
October； and the great woods of the game preserve that stretched
below them were lit with a full moon。
On his way to the lake for a moonlight row with one of the house
party who belonged to that sex that does not row； but looks well
in
the moon…light； Kelly halted； and jeered mockingly。
〃How can you sit there；〃 he demanded； 〃while those poor beasts
are
freezing in a cave； with not even a silk coverlet or a
pillow…sham。
You and your valet ought to be down there now carrying them
pajamas。〃
〃Kelly；〃 declared Herrick； unruffled in his moment of triumph； 〃I
hate to say； 'I told you so；' but you force me。 Go away；〃 he
commanded。 〃You have neither imagination nor soul。〃
〃And that's true；〃 he assured Miss Waring； as Kelly and his
companion left them。 〃Now； I see nothing in what I accomplished
that is ridiculous。 Had you watched those bears as I did； you
would
have felt that sympathy that exists between all who love the
out…of…door life。 A dog loves to see his master pick up his stick
and his hat to take him for a walk； and the man enjoys seeing the
dog leaping and quartering the fields before him。 They are both
the
happier。 At least I am happier to…night； knowing those bears are
at
peace and at home； than I would be if I thought of them being
whipped through their tricks in a dirty theatre。〃 Herrick pointed
to the great forest trees of the preserve； their tops showing
dimly
in the mist of moonlight。 〃Somewhere； down in that valley； he
murmured； 〃are three happy animals。 They are no longer slaves and
puppetsthey are their own masters。 For the rest of their lives
they can sleep on pine needles and dine on nuts and honey。 No one
shall molest them； no one shall force them through degrading
tricks。 Hereafter they can choose their life； and their own home
among the rocks； and the 〃 Herrick's words were frozen on his
tongue。 From the other end of the terrace came a scream so
fierce；
so long； so full of human suffering； that at the sound the blood
of
all that heard it turned to water。 It was so appalling that for
an
instant no one moved； and then from every part of the house；
along
the garden walks； from the ser
