It was quick work that brought the Bear family to the edge of the river. There Mrs. Bear and her cubs began their journey to the fields of snow, and the caves that were safely beyond the reach of the hunters. She could not thank Fireflame at all. She could only look at him with tears of gratitude; while the three little bears, greatly confused, were as solemn as though they had never played tag in their lives.
"But you will visit us some day," the biggest baby bear said, clinging to Fireflame's paw, "and we will all play together again."
The hunters climbed up to the deserted cliff; but they never caught the trail of Mrs. Bear again. For the good river and the soft snows are friendly to the hunted people, and whatever they know they take with them to the great ocean, where it is of no use to any one.
Fireflame went home. He knew that he was safe, so he took his time.
But to the end of his days, he never knew what bird it was that showed him the way in the dark and unfamiliar woods.
[XX]
CHRISTMAS EVE
Tabby Green was alone in the snowy street. The wind which blew with gusts of the finest snow had nearly taken Tabby off her feet as she crept around the corner, and she was so cold and tired that she could hardly take another step. Just as she was preparing to make a final jump for the shelter of a flight of steps, a great white dog came trotting through the snow and, to her great alarm, they ran into each other.
"I beg your pardon," said the dog, in the politest way.