T HREATENING as the northern winter 
was, with its stern order to the birds to * f/ 
depart, and to the beasts to put on their thick 
• • $ 
furs, and to the little folk of the snow to hide 
themselves in white coats, and to all living 
things to watch well the ways that they took, to 
it could bring no terror to Wayeeses and her powerful 
young cubs. The gladness of life was upon them, with 
none of its pains or anxieties or fears, as we know them; 
and they rolled and tumbled about in the first deep 
snow with the abandon of young foxes, filled with won¬ 
der at the strange blanket that covered the rough places 
of earth so softly and made their light footsteps more 
noiseless than before. For to be noiseless and incon¬ 
spicuous, and so in harmony with his surroundings, is 
the first desire of every creature of the vast solitudes. 
79 
