Jill took pity on her, and came down to assist her. With the greatest difficulty she was hoisted up, but when she was comfortably settled on a big branch, her little face shone with pride and contentment.
"It's my legs again," she said, looking down upon them with pity; "they is so short, and—and inconven'ent!"
"Hush!" cried Jack, "here's a wild beast coming, look out! Oh, look, look, it's a deer!"
It was indeed a stag, that had wandered out of a private park near. The children had never seen one so close before.
Their movements startled the timid animal, he threw his head up, scented and then saw them, and in a moment he had dashed away through the bushes. In another moment Jack and Jill were down on the ground and racing after him.
Bumps again was left behind, and she lifted up her voice and wept a second time.
"I can't get down! Oh, Jill, come back! Take me down! I'm frightened!"
But no Jill came back, and poor Bumps sobbed away, clinging hold of the branch with her hot little hands and regarding the distance down to the ground with terrified eyes.
It seemed hours to her before any one passed her way, and then suddenly a young man with a gun across his shoulder, and a couple of dogs, came into sight.