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He bent down, and put a shovelful of turf mould into the stove; and as
he poked the peat he growled out,--
"I had a deal of trouble to find her. The mischief of the unknown had
buried her under two feet of snow. Had it not been for Homo, who sees as
clearly with his nose as Christopher Columbus did with his mind, I
should be still there, scratching at the avalanche, and playing hide and
seek with Death. Diogenes took his lantern and sought for a man; I took
my lantern and sought for a woman. He found a sarcasm, and I found
mourning. How cold she was! I touched her hand--a stone! What silence in
her eyes! How can any one be such a fool as to die and leave a child
behind? It will not be convenient to pack three into this box. A pretty
family I have now! A boy and a girl!"
Whilst Ursus was speaking, Homo sidled up close to the stove. The hand
of the sleeping infant was hanging down between the stove and the chest.
The wolf set to licking it. He licked it so softly that he did not awake
the little infant.
Ursus turned round.
"Well done, Homo. I shall be father, and you shall be uncle."
Then he betook himself again to arranging the fire with philosophical
care, without interrupting his aside.
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