take them to the farm； and turn them loose！〃
No objections his friend could offer could divert him from his
purpose。 When they urged that to spend so much money in such a
manner was criminally wasteful； he pointed out that he was
sufficiently rich to indulge any extravagant fancy； whether in
polo
ponies or bears； when they warned him that if he did not look out
the bears would catch him alone in the woods； and eat him； he
retorted that the bears were now educated to a different diet；
when
they said he should consider the peace of mind of his neighbors；
he
assured them the fence around his game preserve would restrain an
elephant。
〃Besides；〃 protested Kelly； 〃what you propose to do is not only
impracticable； but it's cruelty to animals。 A domesticated animal
can't return to a state of nature； and live。〃
〃Can't it？〃 jeered Herrick。 〃Did you ever read 'The Call of the
Wild'？〃
〃Did you ever read；〃 retorted Kelly； 〃what happened at the siege
of
Ladysmith when the oats ran low and they drove the artillery
horses
out to grass？ They starved； that's all。 And if you don't feed
your
bears on milk out of a bottle they'll starve too。〃
〃That's what will happen；〃 cried Jackson； those bears have
forgotten what a pine forest smells like。 Maybe it's a pity； but
it's the fact。 I'll bet if you could ask them whether they'd
rather
sleep in a cave on your farm or be headliners in vaudeville；
they'd
tell you they were 'devoted to their art。'〃
〃Why！〃 exclaimed Kelly； 〃they're so far from nature that if they
didn't have that colored boy to comb and brush them twice a day
they'd be ashamed to look each other in the eyes。〃
〃And another thing；〃 continued Jackson； 〃trained animals love to
'show off。' They're children。 Those bears ENJOY doing those
tricks。
They ENJOY the applause。 They enjoy dancing to the 'Merry Widow
Waltz。' And if you lock them up in your jungle； they'll get so
homesick that they'll give a performance twice a day to the
squirrels and woodpeckers。〃
〃It's just as hard to unlearn a thing as to learn it；〃 said Kelly
sententiously。 〃You can't make a man who has learned to wear
shoes
enjoy going around in his bare feet。〃
〃Rot！〃 cried Herrick。 〃Look at me。 Didn't I love New York？ I
loved
it so I never went to bed for fear I'd miss something。 But when I
went 'Back to the Land；' did it take me long to fall in love with
the forests and the green fields？ It took me a week。 I go to bed
now the same day I get up； and I've passed on my high hat and
frock
coat to a scarecrow。 And I'll bet you when those bears once scent
the wild woods they'll stampede for them like Croker going to a
third alarm。〃
〃And I repeat；〃 cried Kelly； 〃you are a nature faker。 And I'll
leave it to the bears to prove it。〃
〃We have done our best；〃 sighed Jackson。 〃We have tried to save
him
money and trouble。 And now all he can do for us in return is to
give us seats for the opening performance。〃
What the bears cost Herrick he never told。 But it was a very
large
sum。 As the Countess Zichy pointed out； bears as bears； in a
state
of nature； are cheap。 If it were just a bear he wanted； he
himself
could go to Pike County； Pennsylvania； and trap one。 What he was
paying for； she explained； was the time she had spent in
educating
the Bruno family； and added to that the time during which she
must
now remain idle while she educated another family。
Herrick knew for what he was paying。 It was the pleasure of
rescuing unwilling slaves from bondage。 As to their expensive
education； if they returned to a state of ignorance as rapidly as
did most college graduates he knew； he would be satisfied。 Two
days
later； when her engagement at the music hall closed； Madame Zichy
reluctantly turned over her pets to their new manager。 With Ikey
she was especially loath to part。
〃I'll never get one like him；〃 she walled Ikey is the funniest
four…legged clown in America。 He's a natural…born comedian。 Folks
think I learn him those tricks； but it's all his own stuff。 Only
last week we was playing Paoli's in Bridgeport； and when I was
putting Bruno through the hoops； Ikey runs to the stage…box and
grabs a pound of caramels out of a girl's lap…and swallows the
box。
And in St。 Paul； if the trombone hadn't worn a wig； Ikey would
have
scalped him。 Say； it was a scream！ When the audience see the
trombone snatched bald…headed； and him trying to get back his
wig；
and Ikey chewing it； they went crazy。 You can't learn a bear
tricks
like that。 It's just genius。 Some folks think I taught him to act
like he was intoxicated； but he picked that up； too； all by
himself； through watching my husband。 And Ikey's very fond of
beer
on his own account。 If I don't stop them； the stage hands would
be
always slipping him drinks。 I hope you won't give him none。〃
〃I will not！〃 said Herrick。
The bears； Ikey in one cage and Bruno and Clara in another；
travelled by express to the station nearest the Herrick estate。
There they were transferred to a farm wagon； and grumbling and
growling； and with Ikey howling like an unspanked child； they
were
conveyed to the game preserve。 At the only gate that entered it；
Kelly and Jackson and a specially invited house party of youths
and
maidens were gathered to receive them。 At a greater distance
stood
all of the servants and farm hands； and as the wagon backed
against
the gate； with the door of Ikey's cage opening against it； the
entire audience； with one accord； moved solidly to the rear。
Herrick； with a pleased but somewhat nervous smile； mounted the
wagon。 But before he could unlock the cage Kelly demanded to be
heard。 He insisted that； following the custom of all great
artists；
the bears should give a farewell performance。〃
He begged that Bruno and Clara might be permitted to dance
together。 He pointed out that this would be the last time they
could listen to the strains of the 〃Merry Widow Waltz。〃 He called
upon everybody present to whistle it。
The suggestion of an open…air performance was received coldly。 At
the moment no one seemed able to pucker his lips into a whistle；
and some even explained that with that famous waltz they were
unfamiliar。
One girl attained an instant popularity by pointing out that the
bears could waltz just as well on one side of the fence as the
other。 Kelly； cheated of his free performance； then begged that
before Herrick condemned the bears to starve on acorns； he should
give them a farewell drink； and Herrick； who was slightly
rattled；
replied excitedly that he had not ransomed the animals only to
degrade them。 The argument was interrupted by the French chef
falling out of a tree。 He had climbed it； he explained； in order
to
obtain a better view。
When； in turn； it was explained to him that a bear also could
climb
a tree； he remembered he had left his oven door open。 His
departure
reminded other servants of duties they had neglected； and one of
the guests； also； on remembering he had put in a long…distance
call； hastened to the house。 Jackson suggested that perhaps they
had better all return with him； as the presence of so many people
might frighten the bears。 At the moment he spoke； Ikey emitted a
hideous howl； whether of joy or rage no one knew； and few
remained
to find out。 It was not until Herrick had investigated and
reported
that Ikey was still behind the bars that the house party
cautiously
returned。 The house party then filed a vigorous protest。 Its
members； with Jackson as spokesman； complained that Herrick was
relying entirely too much on his supposition that the bears would
be anxious to enter the forest。 Jackson pointed out that； should
they not care to do so； there was nothing to prevent them from
doubling back under the wagon； in which case the house party and
all of the United States lay before them。 It was not until a
lawn…tennis net and much chicken wire was stretched in intricate
thicknesses across the lower half of the gate that Herrick was
allowed to proceed。 Unassisted； he slid back the cage door； and
without a moment's hesitation Ikey leaped from the wagon through
the gate and into the preserve。 For an instant； dazed by the
sudden
sunlight； he remained motionless； and then； after sniffing
delightedly at the air； stuck his nose deep into the autumn
leaves。
Turning on his back； he luxuriously and joyfully kicked his legs；
and rolled from side to side。
Herrick gave a shout of joy and triumph。 〃What did I tell you！〃
he
called。 〃See how he loves it！ See how happy he is。〃
〃Not at all；〃 protested Kelly。 〃He thought you gave him the sign
to
'roll over。' Tell him to 'play dead；' and he'll do that。〃 〃 Tell
ALL the bears to 'play dead；'〃 begged Jackson； 〃until I'm back in
the billiard…room。〃
Flushed with happiness； Herrick tossed Ikey's cage out of the
wagon； and opened the door of the one that held Bruno and Clara。
On
their part； there was a moment of doubt。 As though suspecting a
trap； they moved to the edge of the cage； and gazed critically at
the screen of trees and tangled vines that rose before them。
〃They think it's a new backdrop；〃 explained Kelly。
But the delight with which Ikey was enjoying his bath in the
autumn
leaves was not lost upon his parents。 Slowly and clumsily they
dropped to the ground。 As though they expected to be recalled；
each
turned to look at the group of people who had now run to peer
through the wire meshes of the fence。 But； as no one spoke and no
one signalled； the three bears； in single file； started toward
the
edge of the forest。 They had of cleared space to cover only a
little distance； and at each step； as though fearful they would
be
stopped and punished； one or the other turned his head。 But no
one
halted them。 With quickening footsteps the bears； now almost at a
gallop； plunged forward。 The next instant they were lost to
sight；
and only the crackling of the underbrush told that they had come
into their own。
Herrick dropped to the ground and locked himself inside the
preserve。
〃I'm going after them；〃 he called； 〃to see what they'll do。〃
There was a frantic chorus of entreaties。
〃Don't be an ass！〃 begged Jackson。 〃They'll eat you。〃 Herrick
waved
his hand reassuringly。
〃