“Go on then!” Faline insisted.
Gobo looked at her. “Well, back then they would have torn me limb from limb ... but then He came along!”
Gobo paused. The others could scarcely breathe.
“Yes,” said Gobo. “Then He came along! He called the dogs off and they immediately became quite quiet. He called to them again and they lay motionless on the ground in front of Him. Then he lifted me up. I screamed. But he stroked me. He held me gently pressed onto his chest. He didn’t hurt me. And then He carried me off ...”
Faline interrupted him. “What do you mean, ‘carried you’?”
Gobo began to explain, in detail and with some self-importance.
“It’s very easy,” interjected Bambi. “Think of the squirrel, Faline, what he does when he’s holding a nut and carries it away ...”
Now the squirrel wanted a chance to speak at last. .”.. A cousin of mine ...” he began with enthusiasm. But the others immediately insisted, “Be quiet! Be quiet! Let Gobo carry on speaking!”
The squirrel had to say silent. He was cowed and bewildered, pressed his forepaws against his white breast and turned to the magpie to speak just to him. .”.. I was saying ... a cousin of mine ...”
But the magpie simply turned his back on him.