By some swiftness or dexterity the lad captured a squirrel in a tree top.

He was then some way ahead of me, but I saw him drop to the ground and crouch there, crying aloud for pleasure like a child.

The sound stirred my sympathies, it was so fresh and innocent; but as I bettered my pace to draw near, the cry of the squirrel knocked upon my heart.

I have heard and seen much of the cruelty of lads, and above all of peasants; but what I now beheld struck me into a passion of anger.

I thrust the fellow aside, plucked the poor brute out of his hands, and with swift mercy killed it.