I praised the thoughtful diligence which had effected so much that was
of real and definite use. In order to try the clay I put some balls of
it in the fire now kindled to burn during the night, and we then betook
ourselves to rest under shelter of our tent.
I awoke at dawn and aroused my little party. My first idea was to
examine the clay balls, which I found baked hard and finely glazed, but
too much melted down by the heat--a fault which, seeing the excellent
quality of the clay, I knew it would be well worthwhile to remedy.
After breakfast, and our accustomed devotions, we harnessed the cart,
and took the way to the bears' den. Fritz headed the party, and, coming
in sight of the entrance to the cave, called out softly:
`Make haste and you will see a whole crowd of wild turkeys, who seem to
have come to attend the funeral obsequies of their respected friend and
neighbour, Bruin, here. But there appears to be a jealous watcher who
is unwilling to admit the visitors to the bed of state!'
The Watcher, as Fritz called him, was an immensely large bird, with a
sort of comb on his head, and a loose fleshy skin hanging from beneath
the beak. Part of the neck was bare, wrinkled and purplish-red, while
around it, resting on the shoulders, was a downy collar of soft white
feathers.
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