NEIGHBORS 



All wild animals are wary and suspicious, even 

 when they do not prey upon one another. What 

 friend has the rabbit, the chipmunk or the weasel? 

 They lead friendless lives and die tragic deaths. 

 Why should not a rabbit gossip with a woodchuck, 

 for instance? One would think their common 

 danger might draw them together, and that they 

 might perhaps learn a little woodcraft one of the 

 other. But caste is nowhere stronger than in the 

 woods. They do not sit at meat together unless, 

 indeed, one is himself the repast. 



Like a subtle atmosphere the spirit of the wild 

 pervades the forest. Whoever enters comes under 

 its spell. In the woods the dog tends to revert to 

 the wolf, and savage instindts come to light. On 

 the street he may pay no heed to people, will 

 move in and out among them, himself a bit of 

 civilization ; but let him leave the village and go 

 into the woods, and he is suspicious and on his 

 guard. 



136 



