6 The Books of Clarence Hawkes 



himself has seen never goes far; and soon he 

 begins to travel in circles. From the great 

 Audubon downward the wise nature writer 

 judiciously supplements his own observations 

 with the testimony of others, thus to make the 

 story complete. 



Therefore fear not to accept the stories of 

 Clarence Hawkes as being true to life; for he 

 works " even as you and I." The mental pic- 

 tures of youth often grow sharper with age. 

 His stories ring true to life. I read them to 

 my grandchildren with confidence, while they 

 listen with rapt attention. The wild-animal 

 hero tale has its legitimate place in literature. 

 When the impossible is carefully eliminated, 

 and the details are true to life, what more does 

 any one desire? 



Therefore, take my friends " Shovelhorns " 

 the moose, " Shaggycoat " the beaver, and 

 " Black Bruin," and make much of them; for 

 they are worth it. 



And if your ego becomes too colossal, if you 

 are tempted to rail at Fate, and denounce your 

 Luck, take " Hitting the Dark Trail " and 



