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,