It was no matter about the sun. This was the valley of Ajalon,
perhaps, of which one had heard in the class at Sabbath-school.
And surely this was a good, droning, yellow-bodied bee--where
did the bees go to when they rose up straight into the air? And
this little mouse, what became of it in winter? And--ah! What
was that--that awful burst of sound? Clutch closer, little
brother, though both be pale! How should either of you yet know
the thunderous flight of the wild grouse, this great bird which
whirled away through the brown leaves of the oaks? Father must
be asked about this tremendous, startling bird. Meantime, the
heart having begun to beat again, let the two adventurers press
yet a little farther on.

And so, with fears and tremblings, with doubts and joys, through
briers and flowers, through hindrances and recompenses, along
this crooked, winding, unknown road which led on out into the
Unknown, they wandered, as in life we all are wandering to-day.

[Illustration]

But hush! Listen! What is it, this sound, approaching, coming
directly toward the road? Surely, it must be the footfall of
some large animal, this cadenced rustling on the leaves! It
comes--it will cross near--there, it has turned, it is near the
road! Look! There it is, a great animal, half the length of
one's arm, with bushy, long red tail arched high for easier
running, its grayish coat showing in the bars of sunlight, its
eyes bright and black and keen. Had it not been said there were
wild animals in these woods?

Each heart now thumped hard with the surging blood it bore; but
it was now the blood of hunters and not of boys. Fear vanished
at the sight of the quarry, and the only thought remaining was
that of battle and of victory. Well for the animal that it
ran--ill for it that it ran down the road and not back into the
cover. The bow twanged, the arrow flew--blunt, but keenly sped.
Down went the smitten prey! Paean! Forward! Victory!

But ho! the creature rallies--recovers! It gathers its forces,
it flies! Pursuit then, but pursuit apparently useless, for the
animal has found refuge deep in this hollow stump, beyond the
reach of longest mortal arm!

Rustle now, ye leaves, and threaten now, all ye boughs with
menacings. Roar, grouse, and clamor on, all ye jangling jays. No
longer can ye strike terror into these two souls, small though
they be. The heart of the hunter has now been born for each.
Fear and defeat are known no longer in th