328 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



and playful that it became a great favorite, following the 

 different members of the family about, caressed by the 

 neighbors, and welcome everywhere. 



2. One morning, after gamboling about as usual until 

 weary, it threw itself down in the sunshine, at the feet of one 

 of its friends, upon the steps of a store. There came along 

 a countryman who for several years had been a hunter by 

 pursuit, and who still kept several dogs ; one of the hounds 

 came with him to the village on this occasion. The dog, 

 as it approached the spot where the fawn lay, suddenly 

 stopped ; the little animal saw him and darted to its feet. 

 It had lived more than half its life among the dogs of the 

 village, and had apparently lost all fear of them ; but it 

 seemed now to know instinctively that an enemy was at 

 hand. In an instant a change came over it ; and the gen- 

 tleman who related the incident, and who was standing by 

 at the moment, observed that he had never in his life seen 

 a finer sight than the sudden arousing of instinct in that 

 beautiful creature. 



3. In a second its whole character and appearance 

 seemed changed, all its past habits were forgotten, every 

 wild impulse was awake ; its head erect, its nostrils di- 

 lated, its eye flashing. In another instant, before the spec- 

 tators had thought of the danger, before its friends could 

 secure it, the fawn was leaping wildly through the street, 

 and the hound in full pursuit. The by-standers were eager 

 to save it ; several persons instantly followed its track, 

 the friends who had long fed and fondled it calling the 

 name it had hitherto known, but in vain. 



4. The hunter endeavored to whistle back his dog, but 

 with no better success. In half a minute the fawn had 

 turned the first corner, dashed onward toward the lake, 

 and thrown itself into the water. But if for a moment the 

 startled creature believed itself safe in the cool bosom of 

 the lake, it was soon undeceived ; the hound followed in 



