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path to a pond； always full of water。 The path is there still； it
invites you to step into it by a turn full of mystery； then suddenly
it stops short and you come upon a bank where a thousand roots run
down to the water and make a sort of canvas in the air。 This hidden
pond has a narrow grassy edge； where a few willows and poplars lend
their fickle shade to a bank of turf which some lazy or pensive
charcoal…burner must have made for his enjoyment。 The frogs hop about；
the teal bathe in the pond； the water…fowl come and go； a hare starts；
you are the master of this delicious bath； decorated with iris and
bulrushes。 Above your head the trees take many attitudes； here the
trunks twine down like boa…constrictors； there the beeches stand erect
as a Greek column。 The snails and the slugs move peacefully about。 A
tench shows its gills； a squirrel looks at you； and at last； after
Emile and the countess； tired with her walk； were seated； a bird； but
I know not what bird it was； sang its autumn song； its farewell song；
to which the other songsters listened；a song welcome to love； and
heard by every organ of the being。
〃What silence！〃 said the countess； with emotion and in a whisper； as
if not to trouble this deep peace。
They looked at the green patches on the water；worlds where life was
organizing； they pointed to the lizard playing in the sun and escaping
at their approach；behavior which has won him the title of 〃the
friend of man。〃 〃Proving； too； how well he knows him；〃 said Emile。
They watched the frogs； who； less distrustful； returned to the surface
of the pond； winking their carbuncle eyes as they sat upon the water…
cresses。 The sweet and simple poetry of Nature permeated these two
souls surfeited with the conventional things of life； and filled them
with contemplative emotion。 Suddenly Blondet shuddered。 Turning to the
countess he said；
〃Did you hear that？〃
〃What？〃 she asked。
〃A curious noise。〃
〃Ah； you literary men who live in your studies and know nothing of the
country！ that is only a woodpecker tapping a tree。 I dare say you
don't even know the most curious fact in the history of that bird。 As
soon as he has given his tap； and he gives millions to pierce an oak；
he flies behind the tree to see if he is yet through it； and he does
this every instant。〃
〃The noise I heard； dear instructress of natural history； was not a
noise made by an animal； there was evidence of mind in it； and that
proclaims a man。〃
The countess was seized with panic； and she darted back through the
wild flower…garden； seeking the path by which to leave the forest。
〃What is the matter？〃 cried Blondet； rushing after her。
〃I thought I saw eyes；〃 she said； when they regained the path through
which they had reached the charcoal…burner's open。
Just then they heard the low death…rattle of a creature whose throat
was suddenly cut； and the countess； with her fears redoubled； fled so
quickly that Blondet could scarcely follow her。 She ran like a will…
o'…the…wisp； and did not listen to Blondet who called to her； 〃You are
mistaken。〃 On she ran； and Emile with her； till they suddenly came
upon Michaud and his wife； who were walking along arm…in…arm。 Emile
was panting and the countess out of breath； and it was some time
before they could speak； then they explained。 Michaud joined Blondet
in laughing at the countess's terror； then the bailiff showed the two
wanderers the way to find the tilbury。 When they reached the gate
Madame Michaud called； 〃Prince！〃
〃Prince！ Prince！〃 called the bailiff； then he whistled；but no
greyhound。
Emile mentioned the curious noise that began their adventure。
〃My wife heard that noise；〃 said Michaud； 〃and I laughed at her。〃
〃They have killed Prince！〃 exclaimed the countess。 〃I am sure of it；
they killed him by cutting his throat at one blow。 What I heard was
the groan of a dying animal。〃
〃The devil！〃 cried Michaud； 〃the matter must be cleared up。〃
Emile and the bailiff left the two ladies with Joseph and the horses；
and returned to the wild garden of the open。 They went down the bank
to the pond； looked everywhere along the slope； but found no clue。
Blondet jumped back first； and as he did so he saw； in a thicket which
stood on higher ground； one of those trees he had noticed in the
morning with withered heads。 He showed it to Michaud； and proposed to
go to it。 The two sprang forward in a straight line across the forest；
avoiding the trunks and going round the matted tangles of brier and
holly until they found the tree。
〃It is a fine elm；〃 said Michaud； 〃but there's a worm in it；a worm
which gnaws round the bark close to the roots。〃
He stopped and took up a bit of the bark； saying： 〃See how they work。〃
〃You have a great many worms in this forest；〃 said Blondet。
Just then Michaud noticed a red spot； a moment more and he saw the
head of his greyhound。 He sighed。
〃The scoundrels！〃 he said。 〃Madame was right。〃
Michaud and Blondet examined the body and found； just as the countess
had said； that some one had cut the greyhound's throat。 To prevent his
barking he had been decoyed with a bit of meat； which was still
between his tongue and his palate。
〃Poor brute； he died of self…indulgence。〃
〃Like all princes；〃 said Blondet。
〃Some one； whoever it is； has just gone； fearing that we might catch
him or her；〃 said Michaud。 〃A serious offence has been committed。 But
for all that； I see no branches about and no lopped trees。〃
Blondet and the bailiff began a cautious search； looking at each spot
where they set their feet before setting them。 Presently Blondet
pointed to a tree beneath which the grass was flattened down and two
hollows made。
〃Some one knelt there； and it must have been a woman； for a man would
not have left such a quantity of flattened grass around the impression
of his two knees； yes； see！ that is the outline of a petticoat。〃
The bailiff； after examining the base of the tree； found the beginning
of a hole beneath the bark； but he did not find the worm with the
tough skin； shiny and squamous； covered with brown specks； ending in a
tail not unlike that of a cockchafer； and having also the latter's
head； antennae； and the two vigorous hooks or shears with which the
creature cuts into the wood。
〃My dear fellow；〃 said Blondet； 〃now I understand the enormous number
of DEAD trees that I noticed this morning from the terrace of the
chateau； and which brought me here to find out the cause of the
phenomenon。 Worms are at work； but they are no other than your
peasants。〃
The bailiff gave vent to an oath and rushed off； followed by Blondet；
to rejoin the countess； whom he requested to take his wife home with
her。 Then he jumped on Joseph's horse； leaving the man to return on
foot； and disappeared with great rapidity to cut off the retreat of
the woman who had killed his dog； hoping to catch her with the