"You
must see that the humans know of no cure for this plague."
"Neither do you!" retorted the dog, and ran on.
Karr found Grayskin, but the elk was so low-spirited that he scarcely
greeted the dog. He began at once to talk of the forest.
"I don't know what I wouldn't give if this misery were only at an end!"
he said.
"Now I shall tell you that 'tis said you could save the forest." Then
Karr delivered the water-snake's message.
"If any one but Helpless had promised this, I should immediately go into
exile," declared the elk. "But how can a poor water-snake have the power
to work such a miracle?"
"Of course it's only a bluff," said Karr. "Water-snakes always like to
pretend that they know more than other creatures."
When Karr was ready to go home, Grayskin accompanied him part of the
way. Presently Karr heard a thrush, perched on a pine top, cry:
"There goes Grayskin, who has destroyed the forest! There goes Grayskin,
who has destroyed the forest!"
Karr thought that he had not heard correctly, but the next moment a hare
came darting across the path. When the hare saw them, he stopped,
flapped his ears, and screamed:
"Here comes Grayskin, who has destroyed the forest!" Then he ran as fast
as he could.
"What do they mean by that?" asked Karr.
"I really don't know," said Grayskin.
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