Unassisted, he slid back the cage door, and
without a moment's hesitation Ikey leaped from the wagon through
the gate and into the preserve. For an instant, dazed by the
sudden
sunlight, he remained motionless, and then, after sniffing
delightedly at the air, stuck his nose deep into the autumn
leaves.
Turning on his back, he luxuriously and joyfully kicked his legs,
and rolled from side to side.
Herrick gave a shout of joy and triumph. "What did I tell you!"
he
called. "See how he loves it! See how happy he is."
"Not at all," protested Kelly. "He thought you gave him the sign
to
'roll over.' Tell him to 'play dead,' and he'll do that." " Tell
ALL the bears to 'play dead,'" begged Jackson, "until I'm back in
the billiard-room."
Flushed with happiness, Herrick tossed Ikey's cage out of the
wagon, and opened the door of the one that held Bruno and Clara.
On
their part, there was a moment of doubt. As though suspecting a
trap, they moved to the edge of the cage, and gazed critically at
the screen of trees and tangled vines that rose before them.
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