Dog and Cat
Dogs and cats generally do not share the same sort of metaphorical imagery due to the distinctive differences in the ways humans view the two species. "So the old dog, who was a natural clown, slithered half off the chair and stood, with his hindquarters resting on the cushions, waving his tail and nudging the cat, who sat like an Egyptian statue." This passage underlines the divergence in perspective. The dog is characterized as a human jester while the cat is endowed with a regal nobility.
Autumn in Canada
The story commences with a long descriptive passage of the Canadian wilderness where the story takes place. Winter rules this geographical area near the top of the world. "To many who live there, fall is the burnished crown of the year." The metaphorical royal headgear of fall is a commentary on it being worth worship as relief from the despotic cold of winter. The description of the season being "burnished" refers to the short period in which it offers relief with the appearance of the sun in bright blue skies.
The Clownish Dog
Much later, after the journey has begun and the domesticated pets have dealt with the fierceness of the untamed wilderness, the dog's clownish appearance undergoes a transformation. "He looked like some grotesque harlequin." The simile employed here has a direct connection back to the description of the dog being a natural clown. In that case, he seems to have been a happy clown. After a rough time in the wild, his appearance is not so upbeat. A harlequin is still a clown, but the connotation is a bit darker and menacing.
The Swimmers
A younger Labrador retriever feels right at home in the waters of the wilderness as opposed to either the cat or the older dog. The swimmer watches the older dog trying to make his way across the water and observes that "His transports of joy on reaching dry land were like those of a shipwrecked mariner after six weeks at sea on a raft." Upon finally making it across after multiple aborted attempts, the older canine celebrates. This allusion to a sailor is somewhat ironic considering that the Labrador has characterized the older dog as being just like the cat in his dislike for being in water.
The Bear
Against all odds, the Siamese cat of the adventurous animal trio staves off a bear attack almost single-handedly. Even the bear itself seems unable to believe this twist in the nature of predatory behavior. "A sudden crackle of undergrowth turned the huge animal into a statue, rigid with apprehension." This metaphorical image is not the result of the cat, however, but the even more unexpected appearance of a dog as the cat's ally. The bear is suddenly thrown into a state of catatonic paralysis because nothing is going naturally in this encounter with the protagonists.
