across the ravine from where I had paused to 

 watch him. Occasionally a bush or weed sprang up 

 as the warm sun released it from its little burden of 

 snow. If it was close to him, he reached out one 

 paw and stroked or boxed it daintily and playfully 

 as a kitten; or, if a few feet away, he stopped, 

 turned his head to one side, and looked at it with 

 lazy, curious interest. He turned for a better 

 glimpse of a tall willow springing up as if inviting 

 him to play and appeared just ready to respond 

 when he caught sight of his moving dark-blue 

 shadow against the white slope. Instantly, reach- 

 ing out lightly with one fore paw, he commenced 

 to play with the shadow. As it dodged, he tried to 

 reach it with the other paw, then stopped to look 

 at it. He sat down and watched it intently, ready 

 to strike it if it moved ; he pushed his nose closer to 

 it. Keeping his eyes on the shadow, with a sudden 

 leap he threw both fore paws forward and brought 

 them down where the shadow had been before his 

 move. For several seconds he leaped and struck 

 right and left in his vain efforts to catch it. Then, 

 seated on his haunches, he watched the shadow out 

 of one eye. He turned his head, possibly wondering 

 what the shadow would do. He seemed surprised 



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