Chapter 5

           “FortwodaysIshelteredinapleasantgrovewheretherehadbeennodeaths. Inthosetwodays,whilebadlydepressedandbelievingthatmyturnwouldcomeatanymoment,neverthelessIrestedandrecuperated. Sodidthepony. Andonthethirdday,puttingwhatsmallstoreoftinnedprovisionsIpossessedonthepony’sback,Istartedonacrossaverylonelyland. Notaliveman,woman,orchild,didIencounter,thoughthedeadwereeverywhere. Food,however,wasabundant. Thelandthenwasnotasitisnow. Itwasallclearedoftreesandbrush,anditwascultivated. Thefoodformillionsofmouthswasgrowing,ripening,andgoingtowaste. FromthefieldsandorchardsIgatheredvegetables,fruits,andberries. AroundthedesertedfarmhousesIgoteggsandcaughtchickens. AndfrequentlyIfoundsuppliesoftinnedprovisionsinthestore-rooms. 

           “Astrangethingwaswhatwastakingplacewithallthedomesticanimals. Everywheretheyweregoingwildandpreyingononeanother. Thechickensandduckswerethefirsttobedestroyed,whilethepigswerethefirsttogowild,followedbythecats. Norwerethedogslonginadaptingthemselvestothechangedconditions. Therewasaveritableplagueofdogs. Theydevouredthecorpses,barkedandhowledduringthenights,andinthedaytimeslunkaboutinthedistance. Asthetimewentby,Inoticedachangeintheirbehavior. Atfirsttheywereapartfromoneanother,verysuspiciousandverypronetofight. Butafteranotverylongwhiletheybegantocometogetherandruninpacks.