Thebears，IkeyinonecageandBrunoandClarainanother，travelledbyexpresstothestationnearesttheHerrickestate。
Theretheyweretransferredtoafarmwagon，andgrumblingandgrowling，andwithIkeyhowlinglikeanunspankedchild，theywereconveyedtothegamepreserve。Attheonlygatethatenteredit，KellyandJacksonandaspeciallyinvitedhousepartyofyouthsandmaidensweregatheredtoreceivethem。Atagreaterdistancestoodalloftheservantsandfarmhands，andasthewagonbackedagainstthegate，withthedoorofIkey\'scageopeningagainstit，theentireaudience，withoneaccord，movedsolidlytotherear。
Herrick，withapleasedbutsomewhatnervoussmile，mountedthewagon。ButbeforehecouldunlockthecageKellydemandedtobeheard。Heinsistedthat，followingthecustomofallgreatartists，thebearsshouldgiveafarewellperformance。\"
HebeggedthatBrunoandClaramightbepermittedtodancetogether。Hepointedoutthatthiswouldbethelasttimetheycouldlistentothestrainsofthe\"MerryWidowWaltz。\"Hecalleduponeverybodypresenttowhistleit。
Thesuggestionofanopen-airperformancewasreceivedcoldly。Atthemomentnooneseemedabletopuckerhislipsintoawhistle，andsomeevenexplainedthatwiththatfamouswaltztheywereunfamiliar。
Onegirlattainedaninstantpopularitybypointingoutthatthebearscouldwaltzjustaswellononesideofthefenceastheother。Kelly，cheatedofhisfreeperformance，thenbeggedthatbeforeHerrickcondemnedthebearstostarveonacorns，heshouldgivethemafarewelldrink，andHerrick，whowasslightlyrattled，repliedexcitedlythathehadnotransomedtheanimalsonlytodegradethem。TheargumentwasinterruptedbytheFrenchcheffallingoutofatree。Hehadclimbedit，heexplained，inordertoobtainabetterview。
When，inturn，itwasexplainedtohimthatabearalsocouldclimbatree，herememberedhehadlefthisovendooropen。Hisdepartureremindedotherservantsofdutiestheyhadneglected，andoneoftheguests，also，onrememberinghehadputinalong-distancecall，hastenedtothehouse。Jacksonsuggestedthatperhapstheyhadbetterallreturnwithhim，asthepresenceofsomanypeoplemightfrightenthebears。Atthemomenthespoke，Ikeyemittedahideoushowl，whetherofjoyorragenooneknew，andfewremainedtofindout。ItwasnotuntilHerrickhadinvestigatedandreportedthatIkeywasstillbehindthebarsthatthehousepartycautiouslyreturned。Thehousepartythenfiledavigorousprotest。Itsmembers，withJacksonasspokesman，complainedthatHerrickwasrelyingentirelytoomuchonhissuppositionthatthebearswouldbeanxioustoentertheforest。Jacksonpointedoutthat，shouldtheynotcaretodoso，therewasnothingtopreventthemfromdoublingbackunderthewagon；inwhichcasethehousepartyandalloftheUnitedStateslaybeforethem。Itwasnotuntilalawn-tennisnetandmuchchickenwirewasstretchedinintricatethicknessesacrossthelowerhalfofthegatethatHerrickwasallowedtoproceed。Unassisted，heslidbackthecagedoor，andwithoutamoment\'shesitationIkeyleapedfromthewagonthroughthegateandintothepreserve。Foraninstant，dazedbythesuddensunlight，heremainedmotionless，andthen，aftersniffingdelightedlyattheair，stuckhisnosedeepintotheautumnleaves。
Turningonhisback，heluxuriouslyandjoyfullykickedhislegs，androlledfromsidetoside。
Herrickgaveashoutofjoyandtriumph。\"WhatdidItellyou！\"
hecalled。\"Seehowhelovesit！Seehowhappyheis。\"
\"Notatall，\"protestedKelly。\"Hethoughtyougavehimthesignto\'rollover。\'Tellhimto\'playdead，\'andhe\'lldothat。\"\"TellALLthebearsto\'playdead，\'\"beggedJackson，\"untilI\'mbackinthebilliard-room。\"
Flushedwithhappiness，HerricktossedIkey\'scageoutofthewagon，andopenedthedooroftheonethatheldBrunoandClara。
Ontheirpart，therewasamomentofdoubt。Asthoughsuspectingatrap，theymovedtotheedgeofthecage，andgazedcriticallyatthescreenoftreesandtangledvinesthatrosebeforethem。
\"Theythinkit\'sanewbackdrop，\"explainedKelly。
ButthedelightwithwhichIkeywasenjoyinghisbathintheautumnleaveswasnotlostuponhisparents。Slowlyandclumsilytheydroppedtotheground。Asthoughtheyexpectedtoberecalled，eachturnedtolookatthegroupofpeoplewhohadnowruntopeerthroughthewiremeshesofthefence。But，asnoonespokeandnoonesignalled，thethreebears，insinglefile，startedtowardtheedgeoftheforest。Theyhadofclearedspacetocoveronlyalittledistance，andateachstep，asthoughfearfultheywouldbestoppedandpunished，oneortheotherturnedhishead。Butnoonehaltedthem。Withquickeningfootstepsthebears，nowalmostatagallop，plungedforward。Thenextinstanttheywerelosttosight，andonlythecracklingoftheunderbrushtoldthattheyhadcomeintotheirown。
Herrickdroppedtothegroundandlockedhimselfinsidethepreserve。
\"I\'mgoingafterthem，\"hecalled，\"toseewhatthey\'lldo。\"
Therewasafranticchorusofentreaties。
\"Don\'tbeanass！\"beggedJackson。\"They\'lleatyou。\"Herrickwavedhishandreassuringly。
\"Theywon\'tevenseeme，\"heexplained。\"Icanfindmywayaboutthisplacebetterthantheycan。AndI\'llkeeptowindwardofthem，andwatchthem。Gotothehouse，\"hecommanded。\"I\'llbewithyouinanhour，andreport。\"
Itwaswithrealreliefthat，onassemblingfordinner，thehousepartyfoundHerrick，inhighspirits，withtheusualnumberoflimbs，andawaitingthem。Theexperimenthadprovedagreatsuccess。Hetoldhow，unheededbythebears，hehad，withoutdifficulty，followedintheirtracks。Foranhourhehadwatchedthem。Nohappyschool-children，letlooseatrecess，couldhaveembracedtheirfreedomwithmoreobviousdelight。Theydrankfromtherunningstreams，forhoneytheyexploredthehollowtree-trunks，theysharpenedtheirclawsonmoss-grownrocks，andamongthefallenoakleavesscratchedviolentlyforacorns。SosatisfiedwasHerrickwithwhathehadseen，withthesuccessofhisexperiment，andsogenuineandunselfishwasheinthethoughtofthehappinesshehadbroughttothebeastsoftheforests，thatforhimnodinnereverpassedmorepleasantly。MissWaring，whosatnexttoherhost，thoughtshehadseldommetamanwithsokindandsimpleanature。Sheratherresentedthefact，andshewasinwardlyindignantthatsomuchrightfeelingandaffectioncouldbewastedonfarmyardfowls，andfour-footedanimals。Shefeltsurethatsomenicegirl，seatedattheotherendofthetable，smilingthroughthelightofthewaxcandlesuponHerrick，wouldsoonmakehimforgethisloveof\"NatureandNature\'schildren。\"Sheevensawherselfthere，andthismayhavemadeherexhibitmoreinterestinHerrick\'sexperimentthanshereallyfelt。Inanyevent，Herrickfoundhermostsympathetic\'andwhendinnerwasovercarriedherofftoacorneroftheterrace。ItwasawarmnightinearlyOctober，andthegreatwoodsofthegamepreservethatstretchedbelowthemwerelitwithafullmoon。
Onhiswaytothelakeforamoonlightrowwithoneofthehousepartywhobelongedtothatsexthatdoesnotrow，butlookswellinthemoon-light，Kellyhalted，andjeeredmockingly。
\"Howcanyousitthere，\"hedemanded，\"whilethosepoorbeastsarefreezinginacave，withnotevenasilkcoverletorapillow-sham。
Youandyourvaletoughttobedowntherenowcarryingthempajamas。\"
\"Kelly，\"declaredHerrick，unruffledinhismomentoftriumph，\"I
hatetosay，\'Itoldyouso，\'butyouforceme。Goaway，\"hecommanded。\"Youhaveneitherimaginationnorsoul。\"
\"Andthat\'strue，\"heassuredMissWaring，asKellyandhiscompanionleftthem。\"Now，IseenothinginwhatIaccomplishedthatisridiculous。HadyouwatchedthosebearsasIdid，youwouldhavefeltthatsympathythatexistsbetweenallwholovetheout-of-doorlife。Adoglovestoseehismasterpickuphisstickandhishattotakehimforawalk，andthemanenjoysseeingthedogleapingandquarteringthefieldsbeforehim。Theyareboththehappier。AtleastIamhappierto-night，knowingthosebearsareatpeaceandathome，thanIwouldbeifIthoughtofthembeingwhippedthroughtheirtricksinadirtytheatre。\"Herrickpointedtothegreatforesttreesofthepreserve，theirtopsshowingdimlyinthemistofmoonlight。\"Somewhere，downinthatvalley，hemurmured，\"arethreehappyanimals。Theyarenolongerslavesandpuppets——theyaretheirownmasters。Fortherestoftheirlivestheycansleeponpineneedlesanddineonnutsandhoney。Nooneshallmolestthem，nooneshallforcethemthroughdegradingtricks。Hereaftertheycanchoosetheirlife，andtheirownhomeamongtherocks，andthe——\"Herrick\'swordswerefrozenonhistongue。Fromtheotherendoftheterracecameascreamsofierce，solong，sofullofhumansuffering，thatatthesoundthebloodofallthathearditturnedtowater。Itwassoappallingthatforaninstantnoonemoved，andthenfromeverypartofthehouse，alongthegardenwalks，fromtheservants\'quarters，camethesoundofpoundingfeet。Herrick，withMissWaringclutchingathissleeve，racedtowardtheotherendoftheterrace。Theyhadnotfartogo。
Directlyinfrontofthemtheysawwhathaddraggedfromtheverysoulofthewomanthescreamofterror。
Thedrawing-roomopenedupontheterrace，and，seatedatthepiano，Jacksonhadbeenplayingforthoseintheroomtodance。Thewindowstotheterracewereopen。Theterraceitselfwasfloodedwithmoonlight。Seekingthefreshair，oneofthedancerssteppedfromthedrawing-roomtotheflagsoutside。Shehadthenraisedthecryofterrorandfalleninafaint。Whatshehadseen，Herrickamomentlateralsosaw。Ontheterraceinthemoon-light，BrunoandClara，ontheirhindlegs，weresolemnlywaltzing。Neitherthescreamnorthecessationofthemusicdisturbedthem。
Contentedly，proudly，theycontinuedtorevolveinhopsandleaps。Fromtheirhappyexpression，itwasevidenttheynotonlywereenjoyingthemselves，butthattheyfelttheyweregreatlyaffordingimmeasurabledelighttoothers。Sickatheart，furious，bitterlyhurt，withroarsofmockinglaughterinhisears，Herrickrantowardthestablesforhelp。Atthefartherendoftheterracethebutlerhadplacedatrayofliqueurs，whiskeys，andsodabottles。
Hisbackhadbeenturnedforonlyafewmoments，butthetimehadsufficed。
Lollingwithhislegsout，stretchedinawickerchair，HerrickbeheldtheformofIkey。Betweenhisupliftedpawsheheldaloofthebaseofadecanter；betweenhisteeth，andwelljammeddownhisthroat，wasthelongneckofthebottle。Fromitissuedthesoundofgentlegurgling。Herrickseizedthedecanterandhurleditcrashingupontheterrace。WithdifficultyIkeyrose。Swayingandshakinghisheadreproachfully，hegaveHerrickaperfectlyaccurateimitationofanintoxicatedbear。