the nature faker-第2章

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horses
out　to　grass？　They　starved；　that's　all。　And　if　you　don't　feed
your
bears　on　milk　out　of　a　bottle　they'll　starve　too。〃

〃That's　what　will　happen；〃　cried　Jackson；　those　bears　have
forgotten　what　a　pine　forest　smells　like。　Maybe　it's　a　pity；　but
it's　the　fact。　I'll　bet　if　you　could　ask　them　whether　they'd
rather
sleep　in　a　cave　on　your　farm　or　be　headliners　in　vaudeville；
they'd
tell　you　they　were　'devoted　to　their　art。'〃

〃Why！〃　exclaimed　Kelly；　〃they're　so　far　from　nature　that　if　they
didn't　have　that　colored　boy　to　comb　and　brush　them　twice　a　day
they'd　be　ashamed　to　look　each　other　in　the　eyes。〃

〃And　another　thing；〃　continued　Jackson；　〃trained　animals　love　to
'show　off。'　They're　children。　Those　bears　ENJOY　doing　those
tricks。
They　ENJOY　the　applause。　They　enjoy　dancing　to　the　'Merry　Widow
Waltz。'　And　if　you　lock　them　up　in　your　jungle；　they'll　get　so
homesick　that　they'll　give　a　performance　twice　a　day　to　the
squirrels　and　woodpeckers。〃

〃It's　just　as　hard　to　unlearn　a　thing　as　to　learn　it；〃　said　Kelly
sententiously。　〃You　can't　make　a　man　who　has　learned　to　wear
shoes
enjoy　going　around　in　his　bare　feet。〃

〃Rot！〃　cried　Herrick。　〃Look　at　me。　Didn't　I　love　New　York？　I
loved
it　so　I　never　went　to　bed　for　fear　I'd　miss　something。　But　when　I
went　'Back　to　the　Land；'　did　it　take　me　long　to　fall　in　love　with
the　forests　and　the　green　fields？　It　took　me　a　week。　I　go　to　bed
now　the　same　day　I　get　up；　and　I've　passed　on　my　high　hat　and
frock
coat　to　a　scarecrow。　And　I'll　bet　you　when　those　bears　once　scent
the　wild　woods　they'll　stampede　for　them　like　Croker　going　to　a
third　alarm。〃

〃And　I　repeat；〃　cried　Kelly；　〃you　are　a　nature　faker。　And　I'll
leave　it　to　the　bears　to　prove　it。〃

〃We　have　done　our　best；〃　sighed　Jackson。　〃We　have　tried　to　save
him
money　and　trouble。　And　now　all　he　can　do　for　us　in　return　is　to
give　us　seats　for　the　opening　performance。〃

What　the　bears　cost　Herrick　he　never　told。　But　it　was　a　very
large
sum。　As　the　Countess　Zichy　pointed　out；　bears　as　bears；　in　a
state
of　nature；　are　cheap。　If　it　were　just　a　bear　he　wanted；　he
himself
could　go　to　Pike　County；　Pennsylvania；　and　trap　one。　What　he　was
paying　for；　she　explained；　was　the　time　she　had　spent　in
educating
the　Bruno　family；　and　added　to　that　the　time　during　which　she
must
now　remain　idle　while　she　educated　another　family。

Herrick　knew　for　what　he　was　paying。　It　was　the　pleasure　of
rescuing　unwilling　slaves　from　bondage。　As　to　their　expensive
education；　if　they　returned　to　a　state　of　ignorance　as　rapidly　as
did　most　college　graduates　he　knew；　he　would　be　satisfied。　Two
days
later；　when　her　engagement　at　the　music　hall　closed；　Madame　Zichy
reluctantly　turned　over　her　pets　to　their　new　manager。　With　Ikey
she　was　especially　loath　to　part。

〃I'll　never　get　one　like　him；〃　she　walled　Ikey　is　the　funniest
four…legged　clown　in　America。　He's　a　natural…born　comedian。　Folks
think　I　learn　him　those　tricks；　but　it's　all　his　own　stuff。　Only
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
of　the　happiness　he　had　brought　to　the　beasts　of　the　forests；
that
for　him　no　dinner　ever　passed　more　pleasantly。　Miss　Waring；　who
sat
next　to　her　host；　thought　she　had　seldom　met　a　man　with　so　kind
and
simple　a　nature。　She　rather　resented　the　fact；　and　she　was
inwardly
indignant　that　so　much　right　feeling　and　affection　could　be
wasted
on　farmyard　fowls；　and　four…footed　animals。　She　felt　sure　that
some
nice　girl；　seated　at　the　other　end　of　the　table；　smiling　through
the　light　of　the　wax　candles　upon　Herrick；　would　soon　make　him
forget　his　love　of　〃Nature　and　Nature's　children。〃　She　even　saw
herself　there；　and　this　may　have　made　her　exhibit　more　interest
in
Herrick's　experiment　than　she　really　felt。　In　any　event；　Herrick
found　her　most　sympathetic'　and　when　dinner　was　over　carried　her
off　to　a　corner　of　the　terrace。　It　was　a　warm　night　in　early
October；　and　the　great　woods　of　the　game　preserve　that　stretched
below　them　were　lit　with　a　full　moon。

On　his　way　to　the　lake　for　a　moonlight　row　with　one　of　the　house
party　who　belong