8 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



these four-footed Americans and the Red Indian 

 Brothers, who lived in tents, owned all the country, 

 and there were no real House People or farm fourfoots 

 here at all." 



" That must have been a long time ago," said Jerry. 

 " I remember my grandmother, and she never said any- 

 thing about wild people, and I never knew about any 

 other animals but ourselves." 



" Who am J, pray ? " squealed a Squirrel, scamper- 

 ing along the fence. " How ignorant you are not to 

 know that I belong to a vemj old family." 



" You don't count," neighed Jerry. " I never thought 

 you were an animal." 



" Not an animal, hey ? I will show 3^ou what a sharp- 

 toothed animal I am, some fine day, and nibble up your 

 dinner when you are asleep," and the Squirrel jumped 

 over Jerry's back, and ran up a tree. 



" My friend told me," continued Comet, " that some 

 of those wild fourfoots are working for their living in 

 this very circus. They are quite rare now, tliough 

 they used to be as plentiful in the west pastures as 

 ants in a hill. He showed me some of these beasts 

 this very morning Avhen they were being led down to 

 the village." 



'' What did they look like ? " 



*' Something like bulls, Avith low backs and great 

 heavy heads, all bushy with thick brown wool. My 

 friend said they are called Bison by the Wise Men ; but 

 in the circus and out where they used to live, every one 

 calls them Buffaloes." 



" I wonder if they are related to me ? " said Daisy, 

 who liad joined the group. 



