out-of-door life. A dog loves to see his master pick up his stick
and his hat to take him for a walk, and the man enjoys seeing the
dog leaping and quartering the fields before him. They are both
the
happier. At least I am happier to-night, knowing those bears are
at
peace and at home, than I would be if I thought of them being
whipped through their tricks in a dirty theatre." Herrick pointed
to the great forest trees of the preserve, their tops showing
dimly
in the mist of moonlight. "Somewhere, down in that valley, he
murmured, "are three happy animals. They are no longer slaves and
puppets--they are their own masters. For the rest of their lives
they can sleep on pine needles and dine on nuts and honey. No one
shall molest them, no one shall force them through degrading
tricks. Hereafter they can choose their life, and their own home
among the rocks, and the ----" Herrick's words were frozen on his
tongue. From the other end of the terrace came a scream so
fierce,
so long, so full of human suffering, that at the sound the blood
of
all that heard it turned to water. It was so appalling that for
an
instant no one moved, and then from every part of the house,
along
the garden walks, from the servants' quarters, came the sound of
pounding feet. Herrick, with Miss Waring clutching at his sleeve,
raced toward the other end of the terrace. They had not far to
go.
Directly in front of them they saw what had dragged from the very