Andy at once caught Matt’s idea, and, taking up an accordion which stood close at hand, he began a lively tune of a popular sort.
At the first bars of the tune the brown bear appeared surprised. He raised himself up higher than ever on his hind legs, until his head touched the top of the show window. Then he started as if to dance, crashing over every article which was on exhibition. Finding he could not dance in the limited space around him, he leaped to the pavement outside, and there, to the bystanders’ amazement and relief, began to execute a clumsy jig.
“He’s dancing, sure enough!” cried Andy. “That was a good idea of yours, Matt.”
“Keep it up until his keepers come,” returned the boy. “Lively, now, Andy, for playing means something.”
Andy continued to play, and as the brown bear began to dance more heartily than ever, the people, who a moment before had been so frightened, gathered about and began to laugh.
“That’s better than shooting him,” remarked one man.
“Indeed, it is,” returned another. “Keep it up, young fellow!”
And Andy did keep it up until two keepers appeared, hatless and almost out of breath, and took the bear in charge.
“Doxie would have been all right,” one of them explained; “but while he was performing on the square below some mischievous boy threw some pepper in his mouth.”