survey one amid strange surroundings, with a mind cleanly disabused of
preconceptions. A visitor from another planet, for example, knowing
nothing of our fauna, and confronted in the forest simultaneously by a
common red milch cow and the notoriously savage black leopard of the
Himalyas, would instinctively shun the cow as a dangerous beast and
confidingly seek to fondle the pretty leopard, thus terminating his
natural history researches before they were fairly begun.

It can be understood, then, that a moment ensued when the little boy
wavered under the steady questioning scrutiny of eight large and powerful
cows, all chewing at him in unison. Yet, even so, and knowing, moreover,
that strange cows are ever untrustworthy, only for a moment did he waver.
Then his new straw hat was off to be shaken at them and he heaved a fierce
"_H-a-y--y-u-p!_"

At this they started, rather indignantly, seeming to meditate his swift
destruction; but another shout turned and routed them, and he even chased
them a little way, helped now by the inconsiderable dog who came up from
pretending to hunt gophers.

After this there seemed nothing to do but eat the other half of the
provisions and retire again for the night. Long after the sun went down
behind the magic wood he lay uneasily on his lumpy bed, trying again and
again to shut his eyes and open them to find it morning--which was the way
it always happened in the west bedroom of the big house he had left
forever.

But it was different here. And presently, when it seemed nearly dark
except for the stars, a disgraceful thing happened. He had pictured the
dog as faithful always to him, refusing in the end even to be taken from