Bambi by Felix Salten

important. A haughty pheasant strutted slowly by, nibbling at the grass seeds and peering cautiously in all directions. The dark, metallic blue of his neck gleamed in the sun.
    One of the Princes was standing close to Bambi. Bambi had never seen any of the fathers so close before. The stag was standing right in front of him next to the hazel bush and was somewhat hidden by the branches. Bambi did not move. He wanted the Prince to come out completely, and was wondering whether he dared speak to him. He wanted to ask his mother and looked around for her. But his mother had already gone away and was standing some distance off, beside Aunt Ena. At the same time Gobo and Faline came running out of the woods. Bambi was still thinking it over without stirring. If he went up to his mother and the others now he would have to pass by the Prince. He felt as if he couldn’t do it.
    â€œOh well,” he thought, “I don’t have to ask my mother first. The old Prince spoke to me and I didn’t tell Mother anything about it. I’ll say, ‘Good morning, Prince.’ He can’t be offended at that. But if he does get angry, I’ll run away fast.” Bambi struggled with his resolve, which began to waver again.
    Presently the Prince walked out from behind the hazel bush onto the meadow.
    â€œNow,” thought Bambi.
    Then there was a crash like thunder.
    Bambi shrank together and didn’t know what had happened. He saw the Prince leap into the air under his very nose and watched him rush past him into the forest with one great bound.
    Bambi looked around in a daze. The thunder still vibrated. He saw how his mother and Aunt Ena, Gobo and Faline fled into the woods. He saw how Friend Hare scurried away like mad. He saw the pheasant running with his neck outstretched. He noticed that the forest grew suddenly still. He started and sprang into the thicket. He had made only a few bounds when he saw the Prince lying on the ground in front of him, motionless. Bambi stopped horrified, not understanding what it meant. The Prince lay bleeding from a great wound in his shoulder. He was dead.
    â€œDon’t stop!” a voice beside him commanded. It was his mother, who rushed past him at full gallop. “Run,” she cried. “Run as fast as you can!” She did not slow up, but raced ahead, and her command brought Bambi after her. He ran with all his might.
    â€œWhat is it, Mother?” he asked. “What is it, Mother?”
    His mother answered between gasps, “It—was—He!”
    Bambi shuddered and they ran on. At last they stopped for lack of breath.
    â€œWhat did you say? Tell me, what it was you said,” a soft voice called down from overhead. Bambi looked up. The squirrel came chattering through the branches.
    â€œI ran the whole way with you,” he cried. “It was dreadful.”
    â€œWere you there?” asked the mother.
    â€œOf course I was there,” the squirrel replied. “I am still trembling in every limb.” He sat erect, balancing with his splendid tail, displaying his small white chest, and holding his forepaws protestingly against his body. “I’m beside myself with excitement,” he said.
    â€œI’m quite weak from fright myself,” said the mother. “I don’t understand it. Not one of us saw a thing.”
    â€œIs that so?” the squirrel said pettishly. “I saw Him long before.”
    â€œSo did I,” another voice cried. It was the magpie. She flew past and settled on a branch.
    â€œSo did I,” came a croak from above. It was the jay, who was sitting on an ash.
    A couple of crows in the treetops cawed harshly, “We saw Him, too.”
    They all sat around talking importantly. They were unusually excited and seemed to be full of anger and fear.
    â€œWhom?” Bambi thought. “Whom did they see?”
    â€œI tried my best,” the squirrel was saying, pressing his forepaws