It was fear of being alone, due, he concluded, most likely to her weakened condition.

He must not leave her much alone.
As he strode down the sloping terrace, rabbits scampered before him, and the beautiful valley quail, as purple in color as the sage on the uplands, ran fleetly along the ground into the forest.

It was pleasant under the trees, in the gold-flecked shade, with the whistle of quail and twittering of birds everywhere.

Soon he had passed the limit of his former excursions and entered new territory.

Here the woods began to show open glades and brooks running down from the slope, and presently he emerged from shade into the sunshine of a meadow.