Jean, Pierre, Pedro, and Moosh-Moosh, a light cedar
canoe, Simbaand Anthony. Once inMexico the viceroy had his own methods, of which no
one had everreturned to complain.
One night Simba came back bleeding with deep claw
marks down hisshoulder.
For hehad come into the wilderness for two reasons
and he had been onlyhalf successful.
That afternoon he went down and began to skinthe
bear.
His long golden beard streamed in the wind as he
climbed the riverbank. It was essential to find a saferesting place.
Gradually, although Anthony saw himonly once or
twice, he became acquainted with his habits. The cleft through which the stream
drainedwas too narrow for the bear. Who could tell what the laughter of a bear
mightportend even in a spiritual state?
It had neverdeceived him, and he was never
surprised at any of its messages.
At the ford below the island Simba lay inwait and
tackled the deer as they swam. They came acrosstheir skeletons from time to time in
the woods.
They ascended into a country of cascades, hills,
forests, anduncountable bears.
For was He not unknowable and inexpressible in
humansymbols or syllables?
His encounter with the People of the Bear was a
mere incident.
He had asked for comfort, and in some sorthe
received it.
There was an annual clearance of such
rubbish.
They ascended into a country of cascades, hills,
forests, anduncountable bears. In the ashes ofthe hearth he thought he recognized
the half-charred nuts of aspecies of palm.
For a hound trained to tackle a lion, the bobcat
was notformidable.
Later on, he foundflints, a rough stone hammer, and
needles of polished bone.
A remembrance ofstrength and hope returned to the
despairing man in the tepee. From time to time Anthony had heard him, and sohad the
Indians, howling in the wilderness. The truce was distinctly over, with one of
theparties lying in ambush. After many weeks the Indian one night emitted an
approvinggrunt and laid his hand on the dogs head. They ascended into a country of
cascades, hills, forests, anduncountable bears.
Simba, who was half-blind now and old and grizzled,
seemed tounderstand that they were leaving. From the bois darcAnthony cut himself a
straight-grained piece and shaped a bow. I am not going to return, and Ishall keep
no notebooks.
It was Simba who smelled them outas if they had
been so many witches. After many weeks the Indian one night emitted an
approvinggrunt and laid his hand on the dogs head. Look out upon the glories of
theuniverse and dwell no longer upon the shadows within. The way along the
rockyledge left no trail.
A stream drained them and broke through the cliffs
intothe main valley by a gorge. Jean, as the cold came on,anointed himself with
their grease. He picked up the trail of his master as best he could. And he soon
barricaded it effectuallyat its narrowest place by a gate of logs.
Moosh-Moosh looked uncomfortableand gave signs of
being lost.