Lad scarce saw or noted any of his companions. The road to home
was barred. And, again, ancestral instinct and his own alert wit
came to his aid. Turning about, and with no hint of fear in his
gait or in the steady dark eyes, he trotted toward the lake.
Already the bear had reached its soothing refuge; and was
standing hip deep in the black waters; now and then ducking his
head and tossing showers of cold spray over his scorched
shoulder-fur.
Lad trotted to the brink. There, stooping--not fifty feet away
from Bruin--he lapped thirstily until he had at last drunk his
fill. Then, looking back once in the direction of the fire-line,
he lay down, very daintily indeed, in shallow water; and prepared
to enjoy his liberty. Scourged by none of the hideous fear which
had goaded his fellow fugitives, he watched with grave interest
the arrival of one after another of the refugees; as they came
scurrying wildly down to the water.
Lad was comfortable. Here, the smoke-reek stung less acutely.
Here, too, were grateful darkness, after the torrid glare of the
fire, and cold water and security.
Pages:
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294