Soon, however, he noticed that the child’s terror had redoubled.
“What is the matter?” he said impatiently. “You do nothing but follow me about, and don’t give me the least assistance.”
“I am afraid of the bear,” replied the courageous Nils. “At Falun you were speaking with the pastor about the great bear. I could understand.”
“I was speaking about the great bear! What do you mean? Oh yes, you are right! The pastor is something of an astronomer, and we were saying—take courage, my brave youth—we were talking about the great bear up in the sky.”
“Oh! the great bear is up in the sky!” cried Nils, recovering his spirits. “Then it is not here? It will not come into this room?”
“No,” said the lawyer, laughing; “it is too far away, too high up! If it should try to come down it would break its paws. Now, then, you are no longer afraid?”
“Oh no! I am not afraid now! But what if it should tumble down?”
“Bah! It is fastened firmly by seven large diamond nails!”
“Was it the good God who nailed it up there because it was so wicked?”
“Probably! Are you quite sure now that you are not afraid?”