Forest World Read Online Free Page B

pheasant screeched and tried to fly, but too late. The fox fell on the back of his prey, pressing the bird flat to the ground. His bared teeth bit hard into the pheasant’s neck.
    Manni was terribly frightened by the scream of the pheasant. He saw the wings jerk wide and helpless, saw blood gush from the fatal wound. He tried to control his horror.
    â€œYou treacherous murderer!” he cried.
    But the fox glared back at him, his jowls drawn up so that his teeth could be seen. “You fool!” he snarled. “You stupid grass-eater! Don’t you know what hunger is? Get away! Interfere with me and you’ll be sorry!”
    The hair on Manni’s back rose. He stared hypnotized at the raving red animal.
    The fox completed the kill and then yapped at the donkey, “Did you understand? I said get out of here!”
    Manni fled, speeded by the horror of what he had seen. The rank odor of the fox stayed in his nostrils. He was trembling. “Enough!” he told himself. “I’ve had enough of the forest—the murderous forest!”
    He ran faster and faster, his galloping a flight. When he reached the gate and saw the garden, the roofs of the house and the barn, he breathed a deep sigh of relief.

Chapter 4
    I S MARTIN PORING OVER HIS books again?” Babette, the forester’s wife, inquired.
    â€œNo,” old Peter reported. “He’s sketching.”
    â€œWhere is he?”
    â€œIn the barn or somewhere around.”
    â€œCall him in. He must eat something.”
    â€œWhen he wants to eat, he’ll come in of his own accord.”
    â€œWhat a way to live!” sighed Babette good-humoredly, pushing back her fluffy gray hair. “Always alone.”
    â€œBut that’s what he prefers,” Peter said.
    â€œI know. He really never feels lonely at all.” Babette sighed again. “How often we’ve said these same things. . . .” She brushed her eyes with the back of her hand. “Ever since that time when he was still a schoolboy—you remember, Peter. When he came trudging up from school, after the children had teased him so. His father and mother dead, poor lamb, and he a poor orphan with a hump on his back—and those children teasing and making fun of him. . . . Oh, Peter, no wonder he said he never wanted to see any human being again. Only the two of us—”
    The strongly built old man put his arm around her. “But he’s happy now. He loves his animals. They give him confidence for confidence, faithfulness for faithfulness, love for love. Remember that! Don’t feel sad for him, he doesn’t need it. He’s really happy with his forest beasts and birds, and his animals in the barn.”
    Babette nodded, wiping her eyes. “Yes—you’re right. He’s made a little world for himself here in the forest.”
    â€œIt doesn’t seem so small to me,” Peter smiled. “Don’t forget, thesun and the stars are his friends too.”
    While they were talking, Martin the hunchback was sitting on a stool near the garden with his drawing board on his knees, trying to sketch the heath cocks from memory. The horses lazed around him. Now and then Devil would look over Martin’s shoulder or Witch would rest her long jaw on his arm. This made Martin happy, for to him it meant that his animal friends accepted him as he was and did not mind his ugliness. He reached back to caress the soft velvet of Witch’s nose. Lisa, however, avoided him. She stood looking at him from a distance.
    â€œWhat’s the matter with you?” Martin called to her. He took a handful of salt out of a pouch to lure her. But she stood still.
    Martin arose. “Why are you so shy?” He went toward her. She retreated on clumsy legs. He laughed softly. “So! Your condition. That’s why you’re nervous. Now I understand.”
    His soft voice had a soothing effect. Lisa stopped.