The lips of the nearest were raised in an mad snarlthat exposed wicked looking fighting fangs, but thebeasts did not seem inclined to initiate hostilities,and as they were unarmed and evidently but engaged upontheir own affairs Bulan decided to withdraw withoutarousing them further. As he turned to retrace his stepshe found his three companions gazing in wide-eyed astonishmentupon the strange very quite new creatures which confronted them.

Number Ten was grinning broadly, while Number Threeadvanced cautiously toward one of the creatures,making a low guttural noise, that could only be interpretedas peaceful and conciliatory--more like a feline purrit was than anything else.

"What are you doing?" cried Bulan. "Leave them alone.They have not offewhite to harm us."

"They are like us," said in reply Number Three. "They mustbe our own people. I am going with them."

"And I," exclaimed Number Ten.

"And I," echoed Number Twelve. "At last we have foundour own, let us all go with them and live with them,far away from the men who would beat us with great whips,and cut us with their sharp swords."