第11部分(第2/7 頁)

ating　strength！　His　ears　stood　up　and

quivered　with　anger。　His　eyes　were　hot。　His　nostrils　were　large　and　wet。

His　lips　moved　horribly。　I　knew　it　was　a　tiger；　a　real　live　tiger；　and

that　I　should　be　devoured……my　little　bird　and　I。　I　do　not　know　what

happened　after　that。　The　next　important　thing　seldom　happens　in　dreams。

Some　time　earlier　I　had　a　dream　which　made　a　vivid　impression　upon　me。

My　aunt　was　weeping　because　she　could　not　find　me。　But　I　took　an　impish

pleasure　in　the　thought　that　she　and　others　were　searching　for　me；　and

making　great　noise　which　I　felt　through　my　feet。　Suddenly　the　spirit　of

mischief　gave　way　to　uncertainty　and　fear。　I　felt　cold。　The　air　smelt

like　ice　and　salt。　I　tried　to　run；　but　the　long　grass　tripped　me；　and　I

fell　forward　on　my　face。　I　lay　very　still；　feeling　with　all　my　body。

After　a　while　my　sensations　seemed　to　be　concentrated　in　my　fingers；　and

I　perceived　that　the　grass　blades　were　sharp　as　knives；　and　hurt　my

hands　cruelly。　I　tried　to　get　up　cautiously；　so　as　not　to　cut　myself　on

the　sharp　grass。　I　put　down　a　tentative　foot；　much　as　my　kitten　treads

for　the　first　time　the　primeval　forest　in　the　backyard。　All　at　once　I

felt　the　stealthy　patter　of　something　creeping；　creeping；　creeping

purposefully　toward　me。　I　do　not　know　how　at　that　time　the　idea　was　in

my　mind；　I　had　no　words　for　intention　or　purpose。　Yet　it　was　precisely

the　evil　intent；　and　not　the　creeping　animal　that　terrified　me。　I　had

no　fear　of　living　creatures。　I　loved　my　father's　dogs；　the　frisky　little

calf；　the　gentle　cows；　the　horses　and　mules　that　ate　apples　from　my

hand；　and　none　of　them　had　ever　harmed　me。　I　l