world of men.
Brutus would be curled down between them. Blanche and her kittens, big
and little, would play with John's hair as he lay there. The squirrel,
perched on the boy's doubled-up knees, would chatter and crack nuts.
The brown hares would run to and fro over his feet, while the doe and
her little fawn nibbled the grass close by, listening to the sound of
the human voices as though they liked it.

What a happy home it was! John wondered if ever any boy was so lucky
as he.

XII

THE BEAR

John had grown to love the little four-footed brothers dearly, and they
were great friends of his. But still the Hermit seemed to have a charm
about him which John lacked, and which drew even the strange new
creatures to him and made them trust him from the first. John longed
to learn this secret. But when he asked the old man about it he looked
at the boy kindly and said,--

"It will come, my son, with time. Love, live, and learn."

John had been with the Hermit some months, when happened an adventure
that interested him more than anything which had befallen. He was
walking one day with the old man in a part of the forest far distant
from their hut. They were looking for a rare and wonderful herb which
the sage needed to distill a certain precious balm.

"This should be the spot," said the old man, going toward a heap of
rocks around which grew a tangle of shrubs and creepers. "The plant
which I seek is shy, and hides in the shadows of sheltered places.
Yonder is a cave, where first I made my dwelling when I came to the
forest, before I built the hut in which we now live. And at the
entrance, I remember, grew the herb of grace, which more than once has
done me service in healing the hurts of my pets."

The Hermit plunged eagerly forward to the rocks. John followed close
behind. At the entrance to the cave the old man stooped to pluck the
herb which they had come so far to seek, and John, clambering beside
him, bent curiously to peer into the cave. Suddenly a sound from
within made him start. The Hermit paused in his task, and both stared
motionless into the blackness of the cave. Presently the sound came
again,--a deep growl ending in a whine.

"Some animal in pain," whispered the Hermit to John. "Stay you here,
my son. I will discover what it may be."

"Nay, father!" pleaded the boy. "It may be some fierce creature; it
may hurt you. Do not go!"

The old man turned beaming eyes upon him.