A FOUR-FOOTED DANCE 409 



and steps over into her garden, walking through it until 

 he reaches Summer ; so, on the evening of that day, 

 we fourfoots may leave our prisons and dance all night 

 in honor of the season." 



" How do you know all this, and who planned the 

 dance ? " questioned the Wildcat. 



" The Wise Meu have pictures of the sun's pathway 

 in their books, and I know it and I planned the dance, 

 because I am a Dream Fox!" he whispered. "When it 

 is quite dark and every one has gone home but the 

 night watchman, who will not tell tales that no one 

 would believe, the dance will begin ! " 



***** 



" How good one of those Rabbits will taste," said the 

 Wildcat a few hours later. "It is a very long time 

 since I ate fresh meat." 



"What are you saying?" snapped the Fox. "Sup- 

 pose every one of us ate what he wished, what would 

 the Wise Men say in the morning when they found half 

 of the cases empty ? " 



" See, the Possum and the Coon are out already and 

 drawing up the window shades. Our friend the Moon 

 is up; that is the signal. Now the Bison, Moose, and 

 Elk are starting; they always take the lead in the 

 social affairs of Four-footed Americans." 



The larger animals soon took their places, two by two, 

 in the entrance hall. The Bison first, with the Moose, 

 Elk, Caribou, American Deer, and Antelope behind. 

 The Musk Ox, Bighorn, and Mountain Goat presently 

 sauntered along together, complaining of the heat. 

 Meanwhile, the Wolves, Foxes, and various Cats had 

 an argument about the right of way, the Puma so far 



