At the same time, he threw up both arms with such an involuntary suddenness that the bundle dropped from his gun and began floating away from him.
"Doonder and blitzen!" he exclaimed, as he plunged after it, still grasping his gun, with a vice-like grip.
He managed to secure the bundle just as it was sinking, but it was only a partial success. The indispensables remained in his hands, but the shoes, with the carefully knit stockings wadded in them, vanished from his view.
He groped around in the water some time for them, but they were not to be found, and not a little disappointed, he made his way to land, narrowly escaping a total submerge ere he succeeded.
He concluded that this way of crossing was not without its disadvantages, and he was not clear in his mind that he could recommend its adoption to his friends.
But, Hans was a sort of philosopher, and donning his pants, put himself in the best condition possible.
At this juncture it occurred to him that perhaps Katrina would be somewhat concerned at his absence, and he regretted that he had not made known his intention before he started in pursuit of his bear.
He debated the matter awhile, but saw no practical way of remedying the matter, and resolved to give it no further attention.
Child-like, he still felt the desire to keep moving, under the impression that he was getting further and further away from his peril.
He had not accomplished any considerable distance, when he found that he was unequal to the task of what would have been but sport in his boyhood. He was not walking upon a carpet, nor anything like it. In the darkness he could not pick his way, and the part of prudence was for him to stop.