Bambi

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Book: Bambi by Felix Salten Read Free Book Online
Authors: Felix Salten
the red blood oozed on his white chest. He
ran about for an hour, then suddenly ­crumpled up, fell across a branch, and
dropped dead in the snow. A ­couple of magpies flew down at once to begin their
meal.

    Another day a fox tore to pieces the strong and handsome pheasant who had
enjoyed such general respect and popularity. His death aroused the sympathies of a wide
circle who tried to comfort his disconsolate widow.
    The fox had dragged the pheasant out of the snow, where he was buried,
thinking himself well hidden. No one could have felt safer than the pheasant for it all
happened in broad daylight. The terrible hardship that seemed to have no end spread
bitterness and brutality. It destroyed all their memories of the past, their faith in
each other, and ruined every good custom they had. There was no longer either peace or
mercy in the ­forest.
    â€œIt’s hard to believe that it will ever be better,”
­Bambi’s mother sighed.
    Aunt Ena sighed too. “It’s hard to believe that it was ever
any better,” she said.
    â€œAnd yet,” Marena said, looking in front of her, “I
always think how beautiful it was before.”
    â€œLook,” old Nettla said to Aunt Ena, “your little one is
trembling.” She pointed to Gobo. “Does he always tremble like
that?”
    â€œYes,” Aunt Ena answered gravely, “he’s shivered
that way for the last few days.”
    â€œWell,” said old Nettla in her frank way, “I’m
glad that I have no more children. If that little one were mine I’d wonder if
he’d last out the winter.”
    The future really didn’t look very bright for Gobo. He was weak. He
had always been much more delicate than Bambi or Faline and remained smaller than either
of them. He was growing worse from day to day. He could not eat even the little food
there was. It made his stomach ache. And he was quite exhausted by the cold, and by the
horrors around him. He shivered more and more and could hardly stand up. Everyone looked
at him sympathetically.
    Old Nettla went up to him and nudged him good-naturedly.
“Don’t be so sad,” she said encouragingly, “that’s no way
for a little prince to act, and besides it’s unhealthy.” She turned away so
that no one could see how moved she was.
    Ronno, who had settled himself a little to one side in the snow, suddenly
sprang up. “I don’t know what it is,” he mumbled and gazed around.
    Everyone grew watchful. “What is it?” they asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Ronno repeated. “But I’m
restless. I suddenly felt restless as if something were wrong.”
    Karus was snuffing the air. “I don’t smell anything
strange,” he declared.
    They all stood still, listening and snuffing the air. “It’s
nothing, there’s absolutely nothing to smell,” they agreed one after
another.
    â€œNevertheless,” Ronno insisted, “you can say what you
like, something is wrong.”
    Marena said, “The crows are calling.”
    â€œThere they go calling again,” Faline added quickly, but the
others had already heard them.
    â€œThey are flying,” said Karus and the others.
    Everybody looked up. High above the treetops a flock of crows flapped by.
They came from the farthest edge of the forest, the direction from which danger always
came, and they were complaining to one another. Apparently something unusual had
happened.
    â€œWasn’t I right?” asked Ronno. “You can see that
something is happening.”
    â€œWhat shall we do?” Bambi’s mother whispered
anxiously.
    â€œLet’s get away,” Aunt Ena urged in alarm.
    â€œWait,” Ronno commanded.
    â€œBut the children,” Aunt Ena replied, “the children.
Gobo can’t run.”
    â€œGo ahead,” Ronno agreed, “go off with your children. I
don’t think there’s any need for

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