likethetailofamouse.Hiseyes,blueasthesummersky,gaveawayhisfiercedevotiontohisfriends,everiedtofeignnonchalance.

    Igel,theeldestandleaderoftheband,tookpainstoexplainthewaysoftheforest.Heshowedmehowtogigfsandfish,howtofindwatercollectedhtinthehollowoffallenleaves,todistinguishediblemush-roomsfromdeadlytoadstools,anddozensofothersurvivaltricks.Buteveguideisnomatchforexperiendformostofmyearlytime,Iwascoddled.Theykeptmeunderstantwatchbyatleasttwoothers,andIwasforcedtostayaroundcamp,withdirewarningstohideawayatanyhintofotherpeople.

    "Iftheycatchyou,theywillthinkyouadevil,"Igeltoldme."Andlockyouaway,orworse,theywilltesttoseeiftheyarerightbythrowingyouinafire."

    "Andyouwillburnuplikekindling,"saidRagno.

    "Ahingmorethanapuffofsmoke,"saidZanzara,andChavisorydemonstratedbydangaroundthecampfire,cirgawaytotheedgeofdarkness.

    Whenthefirsthardfrosthit,asmallpartywassentawayforanhtexcursion,andtheycamebackwitharmloadsofsweaters,jackets,andshoes.Thoseofuswhohadstayedbehindwereshiverihdeerskins.

    "Sinceyouaretheyou,"Igeltoldme,"youhavefirstchoiceoftheclothesandboots."

    Smaolach,whostoodoverthepileofshoes,bee.Inoticedthathisowwerebare.Ipokedthroughtheassortmentofchildrenssaddleshoes,square-tues,vastennisshoes,andtheoddunmatedboot,choosingatlastapairofbrandnewblad-whitewingtipsthatseemedtobemysize.

    "Thosellcutyouranklesoff."

    "Howaboutthese?"Iasked,holdingupthete