Page:Bambi A Life in the Woods (1928).pdf/166

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BAMBI

thought . . . it was Ronno . . . or. . . .” He stopped and risked a shy glance at the old stag. And this glance confused him still more. The old stag stood motionless and powerful. His head had turned completely white by now, and his proud dark eyes glowed in their depths.

“Why don’t you charge me . . . ?” the old stag asked.

Bambi looked at him, filled with a wonderful ecstasy, and shaken by a mysterious tremor. He wanted to cry out, “It’s because I love you,” but he merely answered, “I don’t know. . . .”

The old stag looked at him. “It’s a long time since I’ve seen you,” he said. “You’ve grown big and strong.”

Bambi did not answer. He trembled with joy. The old stag went on examining him critically. Then he came unexpectedly up to Bambi who was terribly frightened.

“Act bravely,” said the old stag.

He turned around and in the next moment had disappeared.

Bambi remained in that place for a long while.

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