"Glorious fun, this snow, isn't it, old fellow?"
But Wapiti stood sniffing the frosty air and was silent.
"I know what is the matter with you," said the sparrow, "you are trying to remember something that happened when it was winter in the great woods where you ran free."
Pwit-Pwit picked at the shreds of skin hanging from Wapiti's antlers, and at length the deer lowered his head and spoke:
"Go away now," he said, "but come back again. I smell something in the air that makes me feel like leaping and running with all my speed. The memory of other days is struggling to return. Just now I thought it was here. Come back after a little, Pwit-Pwit. Give me time to collect my thoughts."
With this the sparrow hopped down from the deer's antlers at Toots' feet, and began fluttering his wings and scolding at him.
"He is talking to you now," said the Princess. "What does he say?"
"He wants us to come with him. Lead the way," said Toots to the sparrow, "and we will follow wherever you go."
Toots took the Princess' hand and started a few steps, whereat Pwit-Pwit, with a chirp of satisfaction, flew straight to the den of the bears. When Toots and the Princess arrived, they found the sparrow exhibiting signs of disappointment and indignation. The great beasts were curled up fast asleep and snoring.
"Well, what do you think of that?" demanded the sparrow. "A nice way to receive visitors, that is. They know that I always come when the sun shines full in their doorway."