按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
last week we was playing Paoli's in Bridgeport； and when I was
putting Bruno through the hoops； Ikey runs to the stage…box and
grabs a pound of caramels out of a girl's lap…and swallows the
box。
And in St。 Paul； if the trombone hadn't worn a wig； Ikey would
have
scalped him。 Say； it was a scream！ When the audience see the
trombone snatched bald…headed； and him trying to get back his
wig；
and Ikey chewing it； they went crazy。 You can't learn a bear
tricks
like that。 It's just genius。 Some folks think I taught him to act
like he was intoxicated； but he picked that up； too； all by
himself； through watching my husband。 And Ikey's very fond of
beer
on his own account。 If I don't stop them； the stage hands would
be
always slipping him drinks。 I hope you won't give him none。〃
〃I will not！〃 said Herrick。
The bears； Ikey in one cage and Bruno and Clara in another；
travelled by express to the station nearest the Herrick estate。
There they were transferred to a farm wagon； and grumbling and
growling； and with Ikey howling like an unspanked child； they
were
conveyed to the game preserve。 At the only gate that entered it；
Kelly and Jackson and a specially invited house party of youths
and
maidens were gathered to receive them。 At a greater distance
stood
all of the servants and farm hands； and as the wagon backed
against
the gate； with the door of Ikey's cage opening against it； the
entire audience； with one accord； moved solidly to the rear。
Herrick； with a pleased but somewhat nervous smile； mounted the
wagon。 But before he could unlock the cage Kelly demanded to be
heard。 He insisted that； following the custom of all great
artists；
the bears should give a farewell performance。〃
He begged that Bruno and Clara might be permitted to dance
together。 He pointed out that this would be the last time they
could listen to the strains of the 〃Merry Widow Waltz。〃 He called
upon everybody present to whistle it。
The suggestion of an open…air performance was received coldly。 At
the moment no one seemed able to pucker his lips into a whistle；
and some even explained that with that famous waltz they were
unfamiliar。
One girl attained an instant popularity by pointing out that the
bears could waltz just as well on one side of the fence as the
other。 Kelly； cheated of his free performance； then begged that
before Herrick condemned the bears to starve on acorns； he should
give them a farewell drink； and Herrick； who was slightly
rattled；
replied excitedly that he had not ransomed the animals only to
degrade them。 The argument was interrupted by the French chef
falling out of a tree。 He had climbed it； he explained； in order
to
obtain a better view。
When； in turn； it was explained to him that a bear also could
climb
a tree； he remembered he had left his oven door open。 His
departure
reminded other servants of duties they had neglected； and one of
the guests； also； on remembering he had put in a long…distance
call； hastened to the house。 Jackson suggested that perhaps they
had better all return with him； as the presence of so many people
might frighten the bears。 At the moment he spoke； Ikey emitted a
hideous howl； whether of joy or rage no one knew； and few
remained
to find out。 It was not until Herrick had investigated and
reported
that Ikey was still behind the bars that the house party
cautiously
returned。 The house party then filed a vigorous protest。 Its
members； with Jackson as spokesman； complained that Herrick was
relying entirely too much on his supposition that the bears would
be anxious to enter the forest。 Jackson pointed out that； should
they not care to do so； there was nothing to prevent them from
doubling back under the wagon； in which case the house party and
all of the United States lay before them。 It was not until a
lawn…tennis net and much chicken wire was stretched in intricate
thicknesses across the lower half of the gate that Herrick was
allowed to proceed。 Unassisted； he slid back the cage door； and
without a moment's hesitation Ikey leaped from the wagon through
the gate and into the preserve。 For an instant； dazed by the
sudden
sunlight； he remained motionless； and then； after sniffing
delightedly at the air； stuck his nose deep into the autumn
leaves。
Turning on his back； he luxuriously and joyfully kicked his legs；
and rolled from side to side。
Herrick gave a shout of joy and triumph。 〃What did I tell you！〃
he
called。 〃See how he loves it！ See how happy he is。〃
〃Not at all；〃 protested Kelly。 〃He thought you gave him the sign
to
'roll over。' Tell him to 'play dead；' and he'll do that。〃 〃 Tell
ALL the bears to 'play dead；'〃 begged Jackson； 〃until I'm back in
the billiard…room。〃
Flushed with happiness； Herrick tossed Ikey's cage out of the
wagon； and opened the door of the one that held Bruno and Clara。
On
their part； there was a moment of doubt。 As though suspecting a
trap； they moved to the edge of the cage； and gazed critically at
the screen of trees and tangled vines that rose before them。
〃They think it's a new backdrop；〃 explained Kelly。
But the delight with which Ikey was enjoying his bath in the
autumn
leaves was not lost upon his parents。 Slowly and clumsily they
dropped to the ground。 As though they expected to be recalled；
each
turned to look at the group of people who had now run to peer
through the wire meshes of the fence。 But； as no one spoke and no
one signalled； the three bears； in single file； started toward
the
edge of the forest。 They had of cleared space to cover only a
little distance； and at each step； as though fearful they would
be
stopped and punished； one or the other turned his head。 But no
one
halted them。 With quickening footsteps the bears； now almost at a
gallop； plunged forward。 The next instant they were lost to
sight；
and only the crackling of the underbrush told that they had come
into their own。
Herrick dropped to the ground and locked himself inside the
preserve。
〃I'm going after them；〃 he called； 〃to see what they'll do。〃
There was a frantic chorus of entreaties。
〃Don't be an ass！〃 begged Jackson。 〃They'll eat you。〃 Herrick
waved
his hand reassuringly。
〃They won't even see me；〃 he explained。 〃I can find my way about
this place better than they can。 And I'll keep to windward of
them；
and watch them。 Go to the house；〃 he commanded。 〃I'll be with you
in an hour； and report。〃
It was with real relief that； on assembling for dinner； the house
party found Herrick； in high spirits； with the usual number of
limbs； and awaiting them。 The experiment had proved a great
success。 He told how； unheeded by the bears； he had； without
difficulty； followed in their tracks。 For an hour he had watched
them。 No happy school…children； let loose at recess； could have
embraced their freedom with more obvious delight。 They drank from
the running streams； for honey they explored the hollow
tree…trunks； they sharpened their claws on moss…grown rocks； and
among the fallen oak leaves scratched violently for acorns。 So
satisfied was Herrick with what he had seen； with the success of
his experiment； and so genuine and unselfish was he in the
thought