Normann looked across at Turner, in amazement, for he knew very well that what he was stating was a falsehood, and consequently that he must have some object in it. Turner, however, retained his former attitude, and looked straight before him. "It is a melancholy reflexion," said Bertha, after a short pause, "how, among animals, one is always seeking the destruction of others; mankind must have learnt it from them. The poor little deer-calf, how frightened it must be when it sees such a formidable enemy approaching!" "Oh, that enemy, notwithstanding its strength, is the least dangerous!" said Turner, with a smile; "his attack is, at least, straightforward and open; but the poor little creature has much worse enemies, who better know how to employ cunning to get it into their power, and are thereby more formidable and less easily avoided; these last are, especially, the panther and the wolf. Indeed, everything nearly persecutes the young deer:--wild cats, ferrets, even eagles and carrion-vultures pounce down on them, kill them, and eat them on the spot." "Oh, that is dreadful!" exclaimed Louisa; "but why doesn't the dam hide them better?" Normann got up, and walked uneasily towards the door; Turner cast a smiling look after him, and continued:--"So she does; and it is seldom that the buzzards, especially, can find out such a little creature, yet it does sometimes occur--I had an example to-day." "But, Turner, it is getting late," said Normann, who could no longer control his impatience and his fears--"consider that we must send off the letter to-day, and that very soon, for the messenger will have no time when the cattle arrives and have to be attended to." "There's time enough," replied Turner, quite quietly; "I have reconsidered the matter, and think we had better not send till to-morrow morning." Normann turned away, to conceal the emotions which he could hardly suppress. "You have seen that to-day, Mr. Trevor?" asked Bertha and Louisa, laying down their work, and looking up anxiously at the man; "and the buzzards found and killed such a poor little creature?" "They haven't killed it yet," replied Turner; "but will probably do so as soon as it becomes dusk, they are always most ravenous then, and generally save their prey until that time." "But I don't understand you," said Bertha, surprised; "why do you suppose that they will destroy a deer-calf?--can they observe it in their flight? It is not possible!"