hoices,andgoinghomeisnotohem."

    &quht,"Smaolachsaid.Hesatdownonarottiumpandtedoffthepossibilitiesonhisfingers."Ohatwhileyoudooldhere,deathlyill,youdiebyact.Irememberonefelloenta-walkingawintryday.Hemadeafoolishcalculationinhisleapfromthetopofthebridgetotheedgeoftheriverbank,andhisjumpwasnotjumpyenough.Hefellintotheriver,wentrightthroughtheiddrowned,frozeh."

    "Actshappen,"Luchógadded."Longago,youcouldfindyourselfeaten.Wolvesandmountainlionsprowledtheseparts.Didyoueverhearoftheonefromupnorthwhowiinsideacaveandwokeupspringtimeoaveryhungrygrizzly?Amandiebyanyceimaginable."

    "Two,youcouldberidofus,"Smaolachsaid,"bysimplyleaving.Justupandsaunteroffandgoliveapartandalone.Wediscethatsortofattitude,mindyou,forweneedyouheretohelpusfichild.Tisharderthanyouthinktopretendtobesomeoneelse."

    "Besides,itisalonesomelife,"saidChavisory.

    "True,"Speckagreed."Butyoubelonelywithadozenfriendsbesideyou."

    "Ifyougothatway,youremorelikelytomeetwithasingularfate,"Luchógsaid."Supposeyoufellinaditdcouldup?Thenwherewouldyoube?"

    SaidSmaolach,"Themfellowsusuallysuccumb,doosometwistintheroad?Youloseyourwayinablizzard.Ablackwidownipsyourthumbasyousleep.Andofindtheae,thecowsliportheboiledfrogseggs."

    "Besides,wherewouldyougothatsaerthanthis?"Luchógasked.

    "Iwouldgocrazybeingjustbymyselfallthetime,"Chavisoryadded.