2 FOREST CEEATUEES. 



the orbit, for he is somewhat far ; but you would not 

 do so if he were nearer : and yet he is scanning your 

 form minutely all the while, and trying to make out 

 satisfactorily what you are. Look how motionless he 

 stands ! — He does not turn his head a hair's breadth ; 

 but as he suddenly stopped so he remains immovable. 

 Had you not seen him before in motion, — had you 

 not seen him come to the spot where he now seems 

 rooted, — you might think the black mass was not 

 alive, and take it for some dark stem, or mound, to 

 which your fancy had given an animal's shape. 



Now he gives a sharp whiff, and then an abrupt 

 grunt : up goes his tail, and setting off at his old dog- 

 trot, away he starts right a-head, through the thickly 

 snow-laden pine forest. On yonder ridge he stops again ; 

 but he does not look round though you are now behind 

 him. With his head still pointing in the direction it 

 was while hasting forwards, he has suddenly halted ; 

 and if you could get near enough would see he was 

 scowling back at you from the very extreme corners of 

 his villanous eyes. 



But that is his way : as he halted when hearing- 

 something, so he remains, no matter whether the sound 

 was beside or behind him. He stops in a second ; and 

 does not stir again, except to continue his way head- 

 foremost. But his sense of hearing is so good, he 

 hardly needs to look round ; and, as he stands, an organ 



osr 



