Read Forest World for Free Online Page B

don’t know. But if they can snap me up on the way it’s all over for me just the same.” He laughed bitterly. “So far they haven’t had a chance at me, though. I hide too well.”
    â€œAren’t you afraid during the day?”
    â€œOh, much less then. Of course I must always be on guard.” He flew higher, ending the chat without formality. He drummed and laughed aloud now and then.
    Tambo dozed standing. But a shaking and chattering in the branches again brought him wide awake.
    Perri the squirrel dashed down, nearly tumbling. She stopped suddenly with a raised flag of tail on a beech branch. “Greetings, powerful one!” she called. “Oh, lucky you! No one dares come near you, but I meet so many dangers.”
    â€œWho’s after you now?” asked Tambo in concern.
    â€œOh, there’s a robber at large in the forest! Nobody knows him. He’s neither fox nor marten. But he climbs trees like a marten. I saw him! He just chased me. He’s fast, but I’m much faster—lucky for me!” Perri bared her gnawing teeth.
    â€œToo bad there must always be robbers,” Tambo sighed. “Of course you’re right that I needn’t be afraid.”
    â€œBut you act as if you were,” Perri said saucily.
    â€œYes, I suppose I do,” Tambo admitted. “But it’s only caution. It’s—I don’t exactly know what. It’s my nature to be wary. But I’m not afraid of robbers. I live peacefully and feed myself from the green plenty around us. I hate stealing and killing just as much as you do.”
    â€œDon’t say that, powerful one.” With her forepaw Perri wiped her face in momentary embarrassment, but then grew pert again. “Little birds taste wonderful. I just found some nests filled with—”
    â€œI’d rather you didn’t tell me such things,” Tambo interrupted. “The forest would be heavenly without you fellows who kill to please your stomachs.”
    â€œOh, you’re mistaken, powerful one,” laughed Perri. “Without us the forest would be boring. Nobody could stand such a dull life! The way things are—with danger, with the need for courage, with the sweet relief of escape, with the well-earned success of staying alive at all— that’s why I love the forest!”
    â€œIt’s a matter of taste,” Tambo muttered uncomfortably.
    â€œNonsense! Even for you danger has charm. That ‘caution’ of yours—you enjoy it. You know you do!” Perri leaped impudently over the great stag and with flirting tail dashed up an oak trunk. “Farewell—powerful and gentle friend!”
    Tambo fell to grazing. He started on a new round, moving alertly through the trees, browsing in search of something especially tasty. Often he slowed his progress to listen and to catch passing scents. He avoided making any sound.
    There! A footfall, very soft, very stealthy. It was He, trying not to make the least noise!
    Sudden fright shot through Tambo’s great body,dimming his sight and paralyzing his legs. He whirled clumsily and broke into a run.
    Presently he stopped to catch his breath, for he realized he was hidden by heavy foliage. He could hear Him moving somewhere far off. And he heard his own heart beat.
    Hoofbeats close by frightened him again, so violently that his rear legs trembled. He heard the soft padding and the panting of some smaller animal. Poor Tambo fell into terrible confusion. He ran senselessly in the same direction as the horse and dog trotting outside on the forest road. He was hidden from Martin, out on an innocent pleasure ride, only by the thicket and a thin wall of trees.
    Then, like thunder roaring down out of a clear sky, a shot crashed.
    The sound went through Tambo like a blow. His body lifted as if he had been hit by a bullet. He leaped to one side, dashing here and there blind with terror. He broke through hedges, and