was just setting.
Sharptooth was getting ready for the night.
She was in the old oak tree.
The baby had gone to sleep.
As she put him down upon his bed she heard the mooing of the wild
cattle.
She looked out upon the hills.
The wild cattle were coming down to the river to drink.
She watched the long line winding down the trail.
Other creatures were watching, too.
Wild animals were coming out of their dens.
A big bear passed close to Sharptooth's tree.
He had heard the mooing of the wild cattle.
Wolves were prowling about.
They, too, were watching the herd.

[Illustration: "_They drank from the flowing stream_"]

The cattle reached the river.
They waded out.
They drank from the flowing stream.
They stood knee deep in the cool water.
At last the leader turned to go.
The others followed one by one.
But some of the weaker ones lingered behind.
They seemed tired.
A big wolf watched them from a thicket.
At length the cattle came out of the stream.
They walked slowly along the bank.
They passed close to the thicket.
The wolf sprang out from his hiding-place.
He seized the smallest creature.
The others dashed off through the underbrush.
They were too frightened to keep the path.
They lost their way.
Wolves and bears were lying in wait.
They fell upon the frightened cattle.
The herd was too far away to help.
So the poor creatures lost their lives.
But the wolves and bears had a feast.

THINGS TO DO

_Model the wooded hills where the cattle fed by day._
_Model the grassy uplands where they fed by night._
_Show the trail that the cattle made._
_Make the banks at the drinking-place._
_Make the thickets and show where the wolf hid._

VIII.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Why did the wild cattle feed on the grassy uplands at night instead of
during the day?
Where did they spend the day?
When do the flesh-eating animals sleep?
When do they hunt?
Can they live without flesh to eat?
Do you know whether they kill more than they need to eat?

_How Sharptooth Spent the Night_

It was now almost dark.
The wild cattle had reached the grassy upland.
They were feeding on the fresh grass.
Sharptooth had watched them out of sight, and now she was getting
sleepy.
She could see nothing but dim shadows, but she could hear all sorts of
sounds.
Wild animals were coming out of their dens.
Most