ap which had fallen off. John had taken possession of his spear
and bow. He now gravely handed an arrow to the young man.

"You may keep that," he said politely. "I think you can do no harm
with that."

The stranger turned crimson, and his face was wicked to see.

"You shall pay for this!" he spluttered, with sobs in his voice. "No
one can injure me without danger. You shall--"

At this moment, not far away in the direction of the Hermit's hut, a
horn sounded. Once, twice, thrice, it blew vigorously, as if giving a
command. Both John and the stranger started.

"I must go!" muttered the latter to himself. "Needs must at that
call." And without another word or glance at John, he ran to his
horse, which was tethered close by, and was soon galloping away in the
direction of the bugle-call.

Trembling with excitement and with alarm at this coming of strangers to
the forest which so long had been at peace, John hurried back to the
hut. But Bruin remained safe in his tree.

He seemed to have no wish to come down And learn what all these strange
doings meant.

XVI

THE HUNT

John found the Hermit sitting as usual beside the door of his hut,
reading his book. He was surrounded by his family of pets. Brutus
bounded to meet John, but the boy was too excited to give him the usual
caress.

"Father!" he cried, "have you heard or seen nothing? There are
strangers in the forest, wicked strangers who hunt our friends the
beasts. I have but now come from such a terrible scene!"

He covered his face with his hands. The Hermit started to his feet.

"What has happened?" he quavered. "Just now the wolf came leaping into
the hut; but I feared nothing. Your clothes are torn. Your face is
bloody. Who has been hurting you, my son?"

But before John could answer came again the call of a bugle, this time
very near, "_Tara_! _Tara_! _Tara_!"

"Huntsmen!" cried the Hermit. "Send Brutus into the hut." John drove
the dog inside, and some of the house-pets with him. Already the
others had taken alarm at the threatening noise and were scattering in
every direction.

Nearer and nearer came the sound of galloping hoofs, the baying of
hounds, the shouts of many men. John and the Hermit stood with pale
faces, waiting.

Suddenly into the clearing bounded a frightened deer,--a slender
dappled creature with brown eyes. Straight to the Hermit she ran, and
dropped panting at his feet.

"It is our doe!" cri